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Fountain Square residents speak at IDEM hearing after concerns raised about odor coming from local business

The owner said it's fourth-generation business that has called Fountain Square home for 30 years and he hasn’t had an issue getting a permit renewed until now.

INDIANAPOLIS — People who live in a Fountain Square neighborhood got the chance to voice concerns Wednesday about the odor coming from a nearby business.

It's a story 13News first brought you on Tuesday.

Some people told 13News that Commercial Grease Trap Cleaning Corp. sends unpleasant smells into the air and materials into nearby properties. 

The company is a septage business that pumps, transports, disposes, stores and treats grease trap waste. The facility’s garage has three walls and is uncovered with open-air containers. According to the Fountain Square Neighborhood Association, the facility is within 660 feet of more than 70 homes. 

An inspection earlier this year from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the county health department resulted in six violations.

The facility is currently permitted through IDEM, but that permit is under review. On Wednesday, the department hosted a public hearing. 

Credit: WTHR
People who live in a Fountain Square neighborhood voiced their concerns Oct. 18, 2023, about the odor coming from a nearby business.

Some residents spoke about their concerns about the odor emanating from around the company. One person said "things could be cleaned up" but added "the man has the right to do his business."

13News spoke to the business owner, Scott Isaacs, over the phone Tuesday. He said the issues in the violations were corrected. Isaacs said he is trying different methods to help reduce the odor, including biological treatment and deodorizers.  

Issacs said the company is a fourth-generation business that has called Fountain Square home for 30 years. Isaacs said he hasn’t had an issue getting a permit renewed until now. Ultimately, he hopes the company can reach an agreement with neighbors to find a path forward.  

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