A controversial Mahoning Township business that slaughters goats has been acting within its rights, according to an official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Resident Todd Wingert yet again brought up Alif Farms at Wednesday’s board of supervisors meeting, at which time he said he doesn’t believe they should have a permit for a slaughterhouse.

“The previous owner pulled the wool over the zoning officer’s eyes,” Wingert said. “There’s not enough footage for them to have a slaughterhouse.”

Wingert added that somebody needs to be accountable if there’s a mistake, and that while he doesn’t believe Alif Farms should have a slaughterhouse, he doubts anyone would complain if they would want to have a butcher shop.

“There’s still issues going on, but having to live there with those conditions (is just) not right,” Wingert said. “They are just not good neighbors.”

Supervisor Deb McGowan told Wingert she was able to speak to John Nano with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“According to him, unfortunately, they are committing no violations,” McGowan said. “There’s nothing they’re doing there that’s wrong.”

McGowan added that as of right now, Alif Farms isn’t doing anything illegal.

“It all falls back on us,” she said. “That’s something we have to deal with our code enforcement and zoning officer.”

McGowan added that Alif Farms does have a license to handle meat.

“There’s nothing illegal about it,” she said. “It’s perfectly legal.”

McGowan advised that the board waits until it hears from Nano’s supervisor.

“They’re not doing anything wrong,” she said. “We just have to wait and see who the liability falls on.”

McGowan said she had contact information for Nano if any residents had any further concerns and wanted to reach out.

She then told the residents who attended the meeting over the situation to bear with the township and be patient with them.

Last month, Wingert asked the board if there was an ordinance for waste pickup in the township, because he didn’t believe Alif Farms LLC was getting rid of it.

He also stated at that time that he’s been putting out rat traps, and that he was on his sixth trap, and that Alif Farms were doing “goat load after goat load.”

Attorney Holly Heintzelman asked at that meeting whether the township’s zoning hearing board has notified the owner of the former Heintzelman’s Meat Market that its zoning permit has been revoked.

A zoning permit to Alif Farms LLC for a fence was revoked in October after an appeal by Heintzelman.

Heintzelman produced pictures of goats inside the fence from around June 7. The fence was up after the slaughterhouse permit was issued, said Heintzelman, who noted she had previously counted 100 goats, and added, “I know there were 176, because the gentleman who delivered them (to Alif Farms LLC) told me.”

Heintzelman said their property is not big enough to accommodate that many goats. Further, she testified that the owner has fenced in her water line, and as a result, she cannot get to it because there is now a gate and a fence there.

She said several days before the zoning hearing, they backed up a box truck to the back door at the butcher shop, wheeled out barrels, dumped it into the box truck, and that when she went out of her house, she held her nose “because it smelled bad.”

Wingert said that due to the smell from the operation, he put in traps and found four rats, noting he has lived at his property since 1982 and never had them until the garbage bags were piled up. That may have drawn them. As a result, he said there is now a rat infestation throughout the neighborhood.

The dispute stems from a June 10 violation issued by LTL Consultants, the township’s code enforcement officer, citing livestock kept on-site, an unpermitted fence, and slaughter operations conducted without a required waste disposal plan, odor abatement plan, or Agriculture Department approval. Each violation could carry fines of up to $500 plus court costs and attorney fees.

Alif Farms, which advertises halal slaughtering services and live animal sales, had 30 days to appeal the violation. The property is owned by Alif Farms LLC, while Alif Meat Packing LLC operates the facility. Permits were previously granted on Sept. 23 and Dec. 12 of last year.

Residents have repeatedly voiced concerns.