Suit Targeting Compost Plant Colbert Residents’ ‘Last Option’

A group of Colbert residents who say they’ve been harmed by a smelly compost plant near their homes filed a lawsuit Monday against the city of Spokane, Spokane County and the company running the plant.

The court action is “the last option for these (residents) to get results on this problem,” said Spokane attorney Michael Hines.

The compost plant is owned by the city and county, but operated by O.M. Scott & Sons Co. of Ohio.

Shortly after it began operating in 1993, residents complained that the site was producing foul odors that “caused emotional distress” and reduced property values, the lawsuit states.

City and county officials have hired experts to study the problem, but ultimately decided no serious odor problem exists.

The lawsuit filed in Spokane County Superior Court seeks unspecified damages on behalf of 21 married couples and one man. In January, the group filed a $2 million claim against the city and county.

Assistant City Attorney Milt Rowland said liability for the compost operation should fall on the operator, not local government.

At the same time, Rowland said O.M. Scott has tried hard to work with residents on the odor concerns.

Hines said the Colbert residents have grown weary of waiting for government to solve the problem.

The residents are asking the court for an injunction to stop operation of the plant, Hines said.

, DataTimes