More questions were raised at the Mahoning Township Supervisors meeting Wednesday about Alif Farms LLC and Alif Meat Packing LLC, the owners of the former Heintzelman’s Meat Market.

Neighbors were looking for updates.

Attorney Adrian Cousens, from the Gross McGinley Law Firm, representatives of the owners of the market, was at the meeting to answer questions.

One of the main topics of interest was whether Alif was storing animals in the big white barn overnight.

“We were told that they were going to bring them in the same day,” Township Solicitor Attorney Thomas Nanovic stated. “I believe they said they would be slaughtering between 7 (a.m.) and 3 or 3:30 (p.m.). The animals will come an hour or a half hour beforehand, and all the animals will be slaughtered that day.”

“My client has advised that are no longer planning on storing animals at all, overnight, at the premises,” Cousens added.

However, several neighbors of the facility said they had videos of the animals being taken out of the white barn to the main building. The video was dated this past Thursday, Aug. 7, which would have been after Alif said they would not be storing animals in the barn.

“That is disappointing,” Nanovic said.

A copy of the video was sent to Zoning Officer Steven Wanner. Nanovic agreed to view the video and to share it with Cousens, who requested a copy to bring it to the attention of the facility owners.

“My understanding is that they were not doing that, that’s what we were told,” Nanovic repeated.

Chairman Robert Slaw agreed with Nanovic.

“We were told they were going right to the lean-to in the back, no animals in the barn,” Slaw said. “I visited the site, and he told me that personally.”

Attorney Holly Heintzelman advised the supervisors that that was not the case.

“They back a tractor trailer up to the (front) door, because they can’t get a tractor trailer to the back barn. There’s not enough room, there’s an overhang. They back the tractor trailer off of (Route) 902 up to the door of the butcher shop.”

Heintzelman also pointed out that the trucks were sometimes blocking Route 902. The front of the truck would be in the Gypsy Hill Apartments’ driveway, across the highway, and the back of the truck on the Alif property.

The issue still remains unresolved.

“The board has not decided anything yet,” Nanovic stated. “We’re not sure what we’re going to do at this point. What the owners have said, whatever they are telling us, we’re telling you, and they’re willing to put it in writing so that we would be able to enforce that. In the event that happens, our Zoning Officer would be able to enforce that.”

Cousens advised the Supervisors that Alif was installing screening, they’re going to explore fencing that would shield some of the public view of what’s going on. He also advised that an inspector from the USDA is required to be present when any slaughtering takes place.

The owners of Alif Farms had extended an invitation for those interested to tour the facility. Slaw advised the citizens that the township would make an arrangement and let the neighbors know, and they can all go there.

“Then we can tour the place and see what can be done to mitigate what is going on there.”