Mahoning Township officials want a resolution on a business that has been issued a notice of violation for the slaughtering of goats at the former Heintzelman’s Meat Market.

Todd Wingert, a nearby property owner, once again told township supervisors on Wednesday that Alif Farms LLC, 124 Mahoning Drive East, are “not very good neighbors.”

“I just don’t feel they have enough property,” Wingert said. “They should go buy 20 to 30 acres and put it (their business) in the Valley.

Carol Etheridge, of Twin Crest Drive, said that last week people took a tour of the facility.

“They just don’t seem to be invested in the community,” Etheridge said. “I went into the storefront, and the odor was so strong, it was overwhelming.”

Etheridge said they’re not operating as a butcher shop, and that they’re slaughtering animals and selling the animals on the premises.

Attorney Holly Heintzelman noted that last month Alif Farms LLC had a law firm attend the board of supervisors meeting.

“None of them have ever appeared at a township meeting,” Heintzelman said. “If they have nothing to hide and want to be (good neighbors), I think they should attend a meeting.”

Heintzelman asked if they’ve presented a waste disposal plan, an odor abatement plan, and noted that compliance had to be completed within 30 days, which they are well past.

“Is the board going to impose fines on them?” she asked.

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic said, “We can get answers. We can ask the zoning officer what ever happened.”

Supervisors

Supervisor Ron Reeser said he spoke with township zoning officer Steven Wanner. “I think the wool was pulled over (township zoning officer’s) eyes,” Reeser said. “I think it should have been looked into better.”

Reeser added, “It’s now up to us to decide. Are we going to revoke the permit? We’re no closer to a solution; it’s time to get some answers. We’ve got to start somewhere, and it’s time we made a decision.”

Reeser’s remarks elicited an ovation from audience members.

Supervisor Myron “Zeke” Blahy agreed with Reeser.

However, Nanovic cautioned supervisors. “I don’t think you have your ducks in a row to do that,” Nanovic said.

Supervisor Deb McGowan countered, “We talk and we talk and nothing gets accomplished. The stench (inside) is enough to make you vomit.”

McGowan wasn’t done.

“We have got to collectively say as a board enough is enough,” she said. “We want a resolution.”

Supervisor Ron Wenrich said the township has to be careful.

“If we do this, we have to win,” Wenrich said. “I don’t want to go too soon and we lose.”

Board Chairman Robert Slaw said he believes the township has to determine it could win a court battle.

He said to the audience, “Trust me, we hear you. We just want to do it the right way.”

Nanovic said he planned to discuss the situation with the board in an executive session at the conclusion of Wednesday’s meeting.

Attorney for market

Last month, attorney Adrian Cousens, from the Gross McGinley Law Firm, attended the meeting on behalf of the meat market to answer questions.

Among them was whether Alif was storing animals in the big white barn overnight. Cousens said his client would no longer store animals at all, overnight, at the premises.

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

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.

Heintzelman said the trucks were sometimes blocking Route 902, as 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.

Cousens said Alif was installing screening, and looking at fencing that would shield some of the public’s view.

He also said that an inspector from the USDA is required to be present when any slaughtering takes place.

On June 10, LTL Consultants, the township’s code enforcement officer, issued the violation to the property owner.

The violation stated that “it has been brought to the township’s attention that the property is being used to keep/house livestock, a fence has been constructed without a permit, and the slaughter of livestock has commended without first providing the required waste disposal plan, odor abatement plan, and operating standards approval from the Department of Agriculture (at the property) located in the R-3 Zoning District.”

The penalty if found liable would be a judgment call of up to $500, plus all court costs and attorney fees.

Alif Farms had 30 days to appeal this notice to the township’s zoning hearing board.

An enforcement notice was sent out June 10 at 124 Mahoning Drive E. because livestock is not permitted on the property.

Alif Farms LLC is the property owner, while Alif Meat Packing LLC is the facility owner. Alif Farms said on its Facebook page it specializes in providing live animals (goats, sheep, and cattle) for Qurbani, along with professional halal slaughtering services delivered to doorsteps.

The zoning officer granted two permits last year, one on Sept. 23, and the other on Dec. 12.

The owners of Alif Farms had extended an invitation for those interested to tour the facility.