The slaughtering of goats at the former Heintzelman’s meat market in Mahoning Township remains an issue.

Todd Wingert, a nearby property owner, asked supervisors on Wednesday if there were any updates on the slaughterhouse.

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.

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic said he spoke with the township’s zoning officer and the township is still looking for additional information.

He said the zoning officer did grant two permits, one on Sept. 23, and the other on Dec. 12.

“I don’t know that we’re going to be able to prohibit them from operating as a slaughterhouse,” Nanovic said. “Our ability to do something may be (limited) due to the permits issued.”

Board Chairman Robert Slaw added, “It’s probably going to court.”

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

Wingert added that he and his wife noticed the presence of a lot of flies, and added, “They’re not very friendly neighbors as far as how they’re running the business.”

Joan Heintzelman told the board that the smell comes up over the hill to her property.

“If you want to smell something really awful,” Joan Heintzelman said. “And you know they are butchering animals down there, and the fly situation is real bad.”

Sympathetic

Supervisor Myron Blahy said he felt for the neighboring property owners.

“It’s ridiculous,” Blahy said.

Under former ownership, Holly Heintzelman said slaughtering had been stopped 20 years ago.

Slaw reassured the residents that the board doesn’t condone the actions that have been taking place at the property.

“Everyone of us supervisors, we empathize with you, but our hands are tied,” Slaw said. “We don’t like it ourselves.”

Supervisor Ron Reeser added, “I myself don’t agree with it.”

Last month, Slaw that a notice of violation has been issued.

Wingert said at that time that over a three-day span, he believes the owners celebrated an Islamic holiday that they called a picnic and slaughtered many goats.

Township zoning officer Steve Wanner said he reached out to the agricultural department and was told someone would get back to him.

Wanner added that on the day he was there last month there was a USDA inspector there.

Holly Heintzelman questioned whether or not they can butcher there at all. Heintzelman noted that her father sold the business in 1994.

Heintzelman said she doesn’t believe they’re a nonconforming use, which under the township’s ordinance, makes them retail, and added she believes they’ve lost their nonconforming use.

Resident Jim Golden, who lives adjacent to the property, said neighboring property owners expected another retail store to open up when the business recently changed hands.

Slaw said the township can only stop them through zoning and that it’s not a permitted use.

Wanner said the property owners are not permitted to have any livestock on their property.

Company response

Contacted after last month’s meeting, Alif Meat Packing LLC, the current facility owner, issued a statement regarding the concerns.

“As a women-owned, USDA-inspected family business with more than 30 years of industry experience, we take great pride in doing things the right way, which is why it was especially disheartening to hear any concerns about our operations discussed publicly without providing us with the opportunity to participate in the conversation,” the statement reads.

“Our facility is monitored by federal inspectors to ensure humane treatment and compliance with the law, and we have never had a single animal cruelty violation, which is public record.

The company said proper permits were obtained.

“We are proud to serve our community with transparency, respect, and sincere care for both the animals we process and our customers and neighbors. Our doors remain open to anyone that may have any questions or concerns.”

Heintzelman’s Meat Market shuttered its doors in October.

Before that, the building had been listed for sale for several months.

The business held a soft reopening in April 2023 several months after it was damaged when a smokehouse caught fire in December 2022.

A smokehouse at the meat market also caught fire in July 2020.