Goat slaughtering by Alif Farms has remained a contentious issue in Mahoning Township for much of the year, with a small but consistent group of residents raising concerns since July.

At the Dec. 10 board of supervisors meeting, resident Todd Wingert again questioned whether Alif Farms should be permitted to operate a slaughterhouse, saying “somebody needs to be accountable if there’s a mistake.”

He added that while he opposes a slaughterhouse, “I doubt anyone would complain if they would want to have a butcher shop.”

Supervisor Deb McGowan said she spoke with John Nano of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who told her Alif Farms is “committing no violations” and “isn’t doing anything illegal” at this time.

McGowan said the farm has a license to handle meat, but the board is waiting to hear from Nano’s supervisor regarding liability.

Wingert has also raised concerns about waste disposal, saying last month that he was on his “sixth rat trap” and that the operation was doing “goat load after goat load.” He said he has lived on his property since 1982 and never had rats until garbage bags began piling up, adding that there is now a rat infestation in the neighborhood.

Attorney Holly Heintzelman questioned whether the zoning hearing board had notified the owner of the former Heintzelman’s Meat Market that a zoning permit had been revoked. A fence permit issued to Alif Farms LLC was revoked in October after her appeal.

Heintzelman presented photos showing goats inside the fenced area in early June, saying she previously counted 100 goats and added, “I know there were 176, because the gentleman who delivered them told me.”

She said the property is not large enough to accommodate that many animals and testified that her water line is now fenced off, preventing access.

She also described barrels being loaded into a box truck from the butcher shop days before the zoning hearing, saying she “held her nose because it smelled bad.”

The dispute originated with a June 10 violation issued by township code enforcement officer LTL Consultants, citing livestock kept on-site, an unpermitted fence, and slaughter operations conducted without required waste disposal and odor abatement plans or Agriculture Department approval.

Each violation carries potential fines of up to $500 plus court costs and attorney fees.

Alif Farms, which advertises halal slaughtering and live animal sales, had 30 days to appeal.

The property is owned by Alif Farms LLC, while Alif Meat Packing LLC operates the facility. Permits were previously issued on Sept. 23 and Dec. 12 of last year.