Sunday, March 08, 2015

City Ensured Stink-Free Super Bowl, Tells Southside Neighbors To Drop Dead Any Other Day Of The Week

The Indianapolis Star is three years late to the story, but its story today, "Stink-free Super Bowl has Southsiders asking: what about us?", is still an eye opener as to just how far city officials were willing to go to allow the city to put on its best face for the out-of-town elites who attended the Super Bowl in 2012 in ways it would never afford the city's residents on the nearby Southside--even those facing years of pungent smells from a nearby factory.

Neighbors living in the working class neighborhoods south of Lucas Oil Stadium have long complained about the smell of "rotten eggs, sulfur and natural gas" emanating from Metalworking Lubricants Co. better known as "the Southside stench." Officials of the company deny they are the source of the odors, and government officials tell complaining neighbors there is nothing they can do to regulate smells. This is Indianapolis so the story naturally doesn't end there. Officials reached a deal with the company to close down the entire week of the Super Bowl to ensure there were no smelly problems during the Big Event.
. . . But those regulators knew where to turn when they wanted to put an abrupt end to the smell in 2012. With Super Bowl XLVI only a week away, an Indianapolis Star investigation recently discovered, city and state officials quietly signed an agreement to suspend operations at Metalworking Lubricants for seven days in the lead up to and during the nationally televised NFL festivities.
Some activists and residents say the Super Bowl deal raises questions about what the city and state promised the company in order to persuade it to shut down. Were favors offered, some ask, in exchange for ensuring a stink-free event at Indy's nearby Lucas Oil Stadium?
City and state officials insist no favors were extended. But to residents — who had complained about the odor for years — the Super Bowl deal stings in other ways.
"It strikes me as unfair and unfortunate that we can provide clean air and non-smelly air for visitors who come for the Super Bowl," said Southside resident Jim Simmons, "but not for our citizens who are in the path of this odor every day." . . .
Metalworking Lubricants, which recycles dirty oil and makes cleaners, employs about 50 people at its plant on the Southside. State environmental regulators recently conducted an air quality permit hearing for the company that drew a large number of residents from the affected area according to the Star. City officials who have long known the company was the source of the odors acknowledge city officials frequently respond to false reports of natural gas leaks because of the problem that tie up city resources.

Federal EPA didn't take steps to take an enforcement action against the company until 2013, and state IDEM officials are now considering a different air quality permit that would require the company to invest in equipment intended to mitigate against the odors, although the state agency has never cited the company for any violations despite the numerous complaints against it. IDEM blames city officials for creating such a weak air permit for the company, which IDEM claims ties its hands. IDEM says city officials could pursue a nuisance action against the company, which it does to poor working class people all the time for the most minor of violations at residential properties by hauling them into court and slapping them with large fines it imposes as a lien on their property if they don't pay up. City prosecutor Samantha DeWester told the Star the city lacks any empirical data to take action against the company."Unless there's some empirical data or something to show that there's pollution," she said, "we can't just say 'Well, it smells so therefore it must be a violation.'"

The Star says the company's president signed a "voluntary agreement" with former Code Enforcement Director Rick Powers and state IDEM Commissioner Tom Easterly on January 23, 2012 under which the company agreed to shut down its operations from January 30 to February 6. None of the parties to the agreement would speak to the Star about the agreement. The agreement recognized that Metalworking Lubricants would suffer economic losses, and that "the city will attempt to assist Metalworking in recovering its losses." A spokesman for Mayor Ballard's office denies the city paid anything to the company to shut down, but it insists at the same time it lived up to its end of the agreement.

Nuvo had a story about the odor problems associated with the company back in 2013. That story mentions a 25,000 gallon oil spill the company experienced back in 2010, which required the disposal of 850 tons of polluted soil. Incredibly, IDEM claimed no toxic materials were released into the city's sewer system or nearby waterways. Apparently, the company only received a $30,000 fine associated with that spill. Perhaps a lesser fine was part of the deal. A separate Star story mentions a letter the company's president sent to IDEM last August referencing the deal. "On this you have our word and a handshake," Kainz wrote. "Just as we stopped operation for the Super Bowl based on our word and handshake." If officials held in abatement civil penalties it would normally take against a company in exchange for its agreement to ensure a stink-free Super Bowl, then that it is a really smelly story worthy of further investigation.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

That the Gannett-owned and ruined Indianapolis Star is years late to just about any real news story, that city politicians and officials will go to any lengths to protect their agendas, and that working Marion County residents are out of the loop of services and a voice and a seat at the table when it comes to the so-called “elites” is nothing new.

That Super Bowl XLVI was a huge opportunity for political Marion County cronies to earn money at the expense of the Marion County tax payers is not news. What role did Bob Grand play on SB 2012 and was that a private legally created entity or was it a public entity? Who were the members? And where is the money generated/earned by participants in the SB 2012? Were there "favors" doled out by SB 2012 and did Bob Grand regulate who got what?

We hoped supporting people like ZA would bring in a fresh change but he’s proved to be the same stale air of insider politics hallmarked by personal enrichment. We hoped almost eight years ago that GB would improve the City but he too is an accomplished chameleon who broke every promise he made and increased every City fee he could lay his porculent corrupt hands on. Of State Republican Legislator attorney Brian Bosma, we who voted for him (never again, however!) learn that he is bought and paid for by Ersal Ozdemir. What else is “not new”?

One thing not new is that the establishment Democrats and Republicans have perverted the political system and a wholesale change is needed. Considering how chained down the entrenched Democrats and Republicans have kept and continue to keep the system nailed tight to prevent fresh air and non-depraved participants from entry… nothing will be new.

Eric Morris said...

Anon 1250: you are correct, though sadly this junk is taking over this whole corrupt country. The other place I pay taxes, a ski resort in Colorado, where the only stench is from the natural hot springs and the only blight is from developers making bad bets in the Federal Reserve-induced real estate bubble in 2000s, is following the primrose path of Detroit, Chicago, and Indy/Carmel. I was even an up-and-coming member of the insider class in Steamboat but over the years from websites like Gary's and others have learned boomerism is just plain-ol' corruption. I am trying my best there but it won't work. Not until the dollar collapses and gold becomes currency again.

http://m.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/mar/07/our-view-more-bang-uras-bucks/#comments

Anonymous said...

What's the excuse of Jeff Miller, the city council member for this district not fighting for his constituents?

Anonymous said...

This story reminds me of the '08 Beijing Olympics - the Chinese government temporarily limiting use of cars in attempt to temporarily dissipate their filthy smog-ridden air from view while they were front and center on the world stage.

Anonymous said...

I am wondering if that part of the deal involved the workers receiving one week's unemployment benefits during the shutdown period....this kind of thing has long happened in the auto industry where its workers get UI benefits during periods where the plants are retooling, even though the workers have not lost their jobs.......that obviously does not benefit the company (I am sure that some favors to the owners were extended - we just need to find out what) Note that the IDEM statements says that "no IDEM assistance was extended".....well what about DWD assistance.....even if no such aid was extended to the workers, this whole deal stinks....

Flogger said...

I few days ago in a comment I wondered about the source of the Down Town Stank when I drive there. I thought it had something to do with the State House. Turns out I was partially right, it was indeed Political but we now know in addition to the State House we have secondary source of Stank from the City Of Indianapolis.

It seems that some Environmental Activists are correct - In Indiana the Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies exist to shield Businesses.

I found this statement interesting:
==============
The Star says the company's president signed a "voluntary agreement" with former Code Enforcement Director Rick Powers and state IDEM Commissioner Tom Easterly on January 23, 2012 under which the company agreed to shut down its operations from January 30 to February 6.
===============================
If there was in fact a statement that was signed maybe it is obtainable via FOIA. Then again it probably disappeared with some the ROC Documents.

Paul K. Ogden said...

Cut Jeff Miller some.slack. He works hard promoting the pay to play crowd, feighning that it's alway for the best interests of his constituents.

Gary R. Welsh said...

IDEM was the only other party to the agreement, and the City says it didn't pay them anything. The only reason IDEM would have become involved was because of its pending enforcement action over the 2010 spill. Was a $30,000 fine the appropriate fine for the oil spill? The company claims its economic loss was about $1 million for the shutdown, which sounds a bit high.

Anonymous said...

Paul O at 6:42- You've nailed Jeff Miller perfectly. I remember pre-City Council Jeff Miller at the old CC Downtown GOP meetings where Miller was an absolute nobody yet ubiquitous at everyone's elbows and tables... working so hard to be in anyone's inner circle.. the only reason the RINO establishment cronies listen to Jeff now is because Miller will gladly tow the establishment Marion County GOP sell-out crowd. A former CC Councilor who is now employed tangentially by his good friend RINO R Governor whom we are cursed with was a council "voting model" for Jeff Miller.

Yes, Miller moans and sighs about "fairness" and his constituents "getting their voices heard" but the expert fence-straddler consistently sells out to the special interests time and time again.

Anonymous said...

Rick Powers has a reputation as "kind of a douche" who will smile to your face, then stab you in the back.

He's also, I believe, a former Marine, in keeping with the military junta that runs Indianapolis. He was happy to see Ballard get elected.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Rick Powers wasn't even a resident of the City of Indianapolis while he was serving as Director of Code Enforcement. He and his wife live in the Chicago suburbs. Now he's got a job working at INDOT up in Northwest Indiana so he doesn't have to commute as far to work.

Anonymous said...

Look into Rick Powers and Jessica Tucker, with Rick getting Jessica a better job at the City.

Not sure where Jessica is, these days. I saw Sen. Donnelly has a Jessica Tucker on his staff.

By the way, have you noticed all the turmoil up at Purdue? The Provost just quit. Is Mitch turning Purdue into a Reich training academy? There's always a dark cloud of militaristic obedience hanging over Purdue, but the iron curtain seems to have descended up there.

Anonymous said...

It's obvious the politicos representing the residents of the affected area have nothing but contempt for them. I'm sure the politicos feel the residents are nothing but a nuisance and the only "constituent" that genuinely matters is the lubricant factory.

I'm sure the company received "something" for their cooperation. Perhaps they received invitations to one of those exclusive Super Bowl parties attended by "out of state talent"?

I wouldn't doubt that puny and runt of a man,Mitch "Napoleon" Daniels had a hand in this. Guys like Rick Powers and state IDEM Commissioner Tom Easterly are simply lackeys/toadies. If Daniels told them to arrive at his office wearing women's apparel,lipstick,thigh-high stockings,heels and for the two of them to get down on their knees and summarily kiss the ring on Daniel's finger they would do so enthusiastically.

Anonymous said...

12:43,

I fully believe Daniels was the real sleaze behind this deal. Ballard took orders from Daniels, and nobody at the State would dare cross Mitch.

Jeff Miller said...

We are doing everything we can to bring this issue to resolution. The recent news stories are only happening due to the public meeting that local government requested by IDEM: http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/EventList.aspx?view=EventDetails&eventidn=203756&information_id=210300. If not for that meeting, no one would even be talking about this. Hoping IDEM does it's job and addresses this once and for all. We will all be watching.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Thanks for sharing, Jeff.

Jeff Miller said...

My pleasure. Thanks for your blog bringing it to light as well. It has gone on long enough and needs to stop.