Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 10/17/17



The city council of West Columbia, S.C., has given initial approval to restrictions on “offensive” odors coming from a major House of Raeford poultry processing facility in that community, according to local media reports.

In a meeting Monday night, the council voted in favor of a plan that would impose up to a $500 fine for an odor violation, and up to 30 days in jail if an odor “annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others.” As well, complaints from at least six residents or from any city public safety official will spur a check into odors.

Final adoption of the plan is expected by mid-November.

The House of Raeford facility has operated on on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia, near the river, for 60 years. In recent years, development has brought homeowners and consumer-oriented business closer to the plant.

In addition, the city of West Columbia is seeking to improve its riverfront and Riverwalk recreation area.

Residents recently have been pushing for the types of restrictions on the plant’s operation that would make it beneficial for the company to move. In July, the city’s zoning board of appeals denied the company’s zoning variance request needed for the company to build an addition on its chicken processing plant in the city.

House of Raeford employs 800 at the West Columbia facility, making it the biggest employer in the city and one of the biggest in the county. The company processes 281 million pounds of poultry meat a year at the location, and paid $1.2 million to the community for water last year, about 10 percent of the city’s entire utility revenue. House of Raeford also donates to local charities and food banks.

Dave Witter, spokesman for the House of Raeford, told Meatingplace in an email that, as the ordinance has not yet been enacted, the company has it under review and does not have a comment at this time.

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