Editorial: Thanks, Vi-COR, for smelling up my hometown
Editorial by Matt Marquardt -
I was notified by neighbors of the South Benjamin Vi-COR plant in Mason City that a thermal oxidizer device has arrived there. The oxidizer was said to have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“The thermal oxidizer has been delivered to VI-COR and is being installed,” a neighbor told NIT. “I drove past there today and saw it standing there, cranes and lots of trucks around the area as well. Hopefully the odor issue will be NON-EXISTENT when the unit is completely installed.”
This is the culmination of a tug-of-war between Mason City residents and Vi-COR that has went on for years. Vi-COR did not immediately return an email requesting information.
(PHOTO: Vi-COR activity on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.)
I went by the South Benjamin plant on Tuesday, and there were workers outside the south end of the building. From a couple hundred yards away, the smell was awful; pungent I would say. That’s the same smell Mason City has dealt with for years, all over town. You can smell it north, south, east and west, at various hours of the day and night. Anyone who lives near the Vi-COR plant on South Carolina Ave. knows that smell. Those folks didn’t raise enough of a “stink” to Vi-COR about it, though, so they will go on sniffing that nasty aroma for at least the foreseeable future.
It looks like Vi-COR will meet the city’s “demand” of installing their de-smellifier just in the nick of time, by July 31. It must be nice for Vi-COR to own a mayor, council and city administrator who will ignore city code and allow you to get away with this for months and months. Years, really, if you count both plants.
So, I’d like to extend an equally odious thank-you to Vi-COR and its president, Mark Holt, who drives around in that obnoxious, huge, green army jeep with the massive silver rims.
Thanks, Mark, for smelling up my hometown and exposing City Hall’s corruption.
36 Responses to Editorial: Thanks, Vi-COR, for smelling up my hometown
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Anonymous
July 11, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Poor Matt he needs a new fancy Jeep so he will better. I think he is green with envy of Mark Holt.
matt
July 11, 2012 at 10:50 am
DAMN NORTH END!
danydon
July 11, 2012 at 9:06 am
Has anyone, ANYONE, made comments about the fenced lot next to Kabrick? 60 plus dumpsters (waste mgmt)with rotten garbage in them. But I suppose that oder would never compare to all the complaints read here.
yes
July 11, 2012 at 8:14 am
I am sure the city of Rockwell would welcome Vicor with open arms. A short drive, please bring your operations and jobs here!
Anonymous
July 12, 2012 at 7:03 pm
I’ll throw in and extra $500,000.00 if you take them!!!!!!!!
Jim
July 11, 2012 at 7:00 am
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Really?
July 10, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I live on 8th sw near the ones whining about the smell, it’s not anything you can’t live with! I grew up going to Roosevelt and smelled the “dog food ” for many years.. A few people with more $$$ in Briarstone and “things” get taken care of…Far worse things to complain about in Good ‘ol MC.
Lemon Shandy
July 10, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Ummmm. Ya. Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? Smelling dog food is not normal and it is not fun and it really shouldn’t be part of anyone’s life on a daily basis unless you stick your snout in a can of of Alpo. I feel sorry for you.
Anonymous
July 11, 2012 at 1:16 am
You know how ridiculous you sound! You can smell industry in every city in America. The people tolerate it because it brings jobs and economic development to the their city. Trust me, there are a lot of places in M.C. where you can’t smell Vi-Cor, perhaps you should move to different part of town. Go back to complaining how the traffic lights don’t turn green fast enough for you.
anonymous
July 11, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Its not normal for anyone to smell your cars exhaust on a daily basis. Because your willing to put up with that doesn’t make you better now does it.
*Larry*
July 11, 2012 at 8:04 am
ANONYMOUS….do you know how ridicuous you sound? The LAW IS THE LAW ! You obviously support law breakers, and probably are a law breaker yourself. VI-COR has been breaking the law for 2 years, while producing out in Industrial Park on So. Benjamin. Check the Mason City Codes – then come back with your assinine comments !
Lawsteward
July 10, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Dear Mr Anonymous…I have to say that I will always agree that you have the right to your opinion, but in saying that I also have to ask, do you kiss your mother or your wife, or your significant other with that “mouth” that spews such crude language…just wondering!
wickedwoman
July 10, 2012 at 7:01 pm
None of you know what you are talking about, if you listen you will learn it is all natural ingredients
Aspirin
July 10, 2012 at 5:30 pm
As Mr. Holt states in the video ” Yeeha! Let’s just do what we want to do” He did for 2 years and broke the city code laws (Industrial Park City Codes) the entire time with support from corrupt city hall/city council ! It’s about time he & “V” management team installs the required equipment to eliminate odors from leaving his new facility on So. Benjamin Ave. It was bad enough to smell the stench every time I visit downtown Mason City, but to break the law & stink up an entire city is reprehensible !
It is just a shame that the folks near the So. Carolina facility did not have courage to take legal action. Why did they not file a nuisance injunction against that facility ?
The supposed $600,000.oo spent for the thermal oxidizer is just part of the cost for running a business according to the law! Afterall “V” had a multi-million dollar profit year in 2007 – right ?
A final “thank you” to “V” for FINALLY installing the odor eliminating equipment ( after 2 years of breaking the law) Now let’s just make sure the odor eliminating equipment works effectively :)
anonymous
July 11, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Were not all cry baby wine asses thats why we didn’t clog our courts with nuisance litigation.
Mighty One
July 12, 2012 at 10:00 am
Anonymous…. you sound like a supporter of law breakers !
Emanresu
July 10, 2012 at 4:58 pm
ANONYMOUS…. Beermeyer is that you ?
You obviously support breaking the law ! How sad & pathetic.
Jim
July 10, 2012 at 4:57 pm
my snnifer must have gone bad, for I walk my dog every evening down by Vicor and I have never noticed a odor that is worse then the smell of the mall
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Walk your dog during the day when there cooking JIM and no it won’t be your dogs ass you smell but Vicor!!!!!!
*Larry*
July 10, 2012 at 4:56 pm
“To ANONYMOUS”…..
YOU ARE A GIANT PIECE OF SH*T ! A**HOLE Piece of SH*T.. you are ! You obviously are a lawbreaker as you support H*lt & his unlawful productions on So. Benjamin Ave. to which the City leadership is so f*#ck*ng corrupt ! H*lt supposedly donated large sums of $$$$ to the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Dept as well for a “rescue plane” so he has lots of law enforcment & city leadership under his belt. He is the new MAFIA KING of Mason City ! What Momma would not be proud to have that for a son?
Guest
July 10, 2012 at 4:59 pm
The only thing being donated is time and use of privately owned aircraft in support of search & rescue when requested by area law enforcement. The ‘mob’ meme is rather trite.
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 4:13 pm
All I smell when in industrial park is AGP.
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 5:08 pm
AGPs not in the industrial Park you Idiot. Where were you born????
OneEyed
July 10, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Yeah, because AGP is alll the way right across the street from industrial park and we all know that odors don’t cross busy streets…
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Matt, you must not know where you are if you say the smell is all over. And by the way i think you are full of shit. Love the jeep Mark. And Matt why do you give a shit what he drives?
Matt Marquardt
July 10, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Nice language, you show your level of intelligence. I find Vi-COR to be a bad neighbor, it has smelled up this town, and that is my opinion. The owner does not care and only acts when he is forced to. I find that to be arrogant as well.
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Matt you can kiss my red rosy ass. How’s that for language. And speaking of intellgence you better look in the mirror.
Matt Marquardt
July 10, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Haha. No thanks pal. Probably a huge target, but I will pass.
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Keep up the good work Mark. The jeep looks good
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 5:09 pm
One a–hole talking to another!!!!!!!
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 3:23 pm
murder rape assault home invaded drugs SMELL O MY GOD
so sick
July 10, 2012 at 2:58 pm
wondered what that smell was from! I really don’t mind as long as it is not toxic..does anyone know?
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 2:56 pm
what business would want to come to this town
Anonymous
July 12, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Hopefully Ones that don’t smell like shit and are responsible for their actions and conform to the LAWS SET FORTH BY OUR FEARLESS CITY LEADERS!!!!!!
NykiSyx
July 10, 2012 at 2:51 pm
living on south Carolina, the smell is bad, but that is the least of our worries in this town. Instead if trying to do something about the smell, let’s try to get other things that really matter in this town fixed, like all the violence these people are bringing to our town. DUH!
Anonymous
July 10, 2012 at 2:50 pm
you are a bunch wining f—— A–Holes