John Wetzel

The Powell City Council approved, on a first reading, changes to two city ordinances that would allow for meat processing within the city limits, under a number of restrictions.

The first change amends the city’s ordinance on the keeping of animals to make an exception for livestock under the provisions of the second ordinance change, which permits the slaughtering of animals at an eligible facility.

Any such facility would need to be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Wyoming Department of Agriculture. City of Powell department heads would also have to review the plans for the facility, and the city council would need to approve each proposed facility on a case-by-case basis.

The amended ordinance stipulates that the owner sign an agreement regarding the “wastewater pretreatment, sewer and water requirements and charges, the disposal of waste requirements and the keeping of animals on site.” Additionally, it would require the plant to be operated in a way that minimizes noise, odors, or other impacts to the neighborhoods that surround the industrial zone.

The proposed changes, which must still go through two more readings before becoming final, come at the request of Dave Peterson, owner of the Proud Cut Saloon in Cody. Peterson intends to build a meat processing facility at a location within Powell’s industrial zone, along North Street.

The zone abuts a residential neighborhood, and the proposed ordinance changes generated protests, including a petition signed by more than 70 people.

The petition claimed the building would be covered in cow manure and urine and produce odors and insects, insisting there was no way for a food processing facility of this type to operate without such unsanitary conditions. The document asked the council to not change city code, which currently prohibits the slaughtering of animals in the city limits.

Prior to last week’s meeting, the council held two public comment periods in October on the proposed ordinance changes. The meetings brought out a number of supporters and opponents to provide comment to the council.

The Nov. 2 meeting brought out a few more opponents, who argued the facility would be unsanitary.

Mike Logan said he has a storage facility in the area, where he stores vehicles and other valuables. He said the slaughterhouse would generate rodents and wanted to know what the city would do to remediate the problem once it arose.

“I never had any problems, but suspect when this happens, I will have,” Logan said.

Mayor John Wetzel pointed out the city operates a solid waste transfer station on North Ingalls Street without any rodent problems — and Logan agreed he had not heard of any problems there.

“This is going to be a completely inspected facility,” Wetzel said.

Peterson explained that the facility would be operating under state and federal regulations, which don’t permit food processing facilities to have pest problems. He ran through how the facility would control odors and operate with proper sanitation, which he said would be something he personally wanted.

“I don’t want a dirty facility. I wouldn’t want to work in a place like that,” Peterson said.

The businessman has said he will initially seek state certifications before pursuing USDA certifications, which can be more difficult to obtain.

Wyoming Department of Agriculture regulations not only have specific requirements for pest control inside the facility, but they also require the grounds around the facility to be free of weeds, to remove areas rodents might hide.

Cindy Sapp also spoke in opposition to the ordinance change. While saying she fully supports economic development in Powell, Sapp said it would be impossible to control odors coming from such a facility. She referred to a Powell home that was covered in cheese in 2001 as a temporary work of art, saying it drew a number of complaints concerning odors.

Councilor Scott Mangold said Peterson would be beholden to not only state and federal regulations regarding sanitation at food processing facilities, but he’d also have to answer to the city.

“He’s going to be dealing with two different entities to operate,” Mangold said.

Wetzel noted that, under the proposed ordinances, anyone who wants to operate such a facility must get approval from the council, meaning the body has a lot of oversight over any slaughterhouses.

“We’re not just throwing doors open to any and all,” Wetzel said.

Tammy Howard, who lives near the proposed facility, also spoke. She has been at nearly every meeting to voice her objections.

She reported hearing a news broadcast on KPOW radio, which Mangold owns. Reporter Russ Graham had spoken favorably about the facility, and Howard believed this was a paid advertisement, indicating the council had already made up its mind on approving the change in ordinance before hearing all public input.

Mangold said it was just a news report and not an advertisement.

“We don’t have any control over the news media,” Wetzel added.

The council approved the amendments to the two ordinances in one vote, with Councilor Tim Sapp voting against the changes.