ELKINS — Members of the Elkins Make it Quiet group have presented Elkins City Council with a petition including 200 signatures asking for something to be done about noise coming from the Hamer Fuel Pellet Plant in the city’s industrial park.

Along with the petition, two of the group members spoke and presented testimonials from six local residents during this week’s virtual Elkins City Council meeting.

Katy McClane, the secretary for Elkins Make it Quiet, said, “The Hamer Fuel Pellet Plant makes wood fuel pellets which are dried with fans and other methods that create noise pollution that continues six nights a week, all night, making it difficult to sleep or even enjoy a peaceful evening on your front porch.

“The noise pollution spreads up to neighborhoods above the valley floor of Elkins and affects property owners more than two miles away.”

McClane claimed the noise reaches all five wards in the city and that several neighborhoods are affected.

“The problem occurs in all five wards of the city, impacting neighborhoods such as Scott Hill, Kerens Hill, Boundary, Summit, Terrace and High streets,” she said. “Sometimes the noise travels to the lower river to neighborhoods such as Sylvester and Evergreen streets near Scotts Ford on the Tygart River. It is even a problem on Harpertown Road, Glenmore Loop, Teaberry Hills and Bear Hunter Mountain Estates.”

McClane said the group would like to see the plant be a good neighbor and abate the industrial sound as much as possible.

“We have written letter to the Jim C. Hamer headquarters in Kenova, W.Va. but we have not heard back from them,” she said. “We have written and visited our local plant in Elkins, but we have either been ignored or told that we aren’t hearing noise generated by the plant.”

The group asked Council to require the Jim C. Hamer Company to hire an engineering company to assess the noise problem and make the necessary modifications to resolve it. The group is also asking council to amend the city’s current noise ordinance to address industrial noise.

“Creating a noise ordinance that deals with industrial noise could address our current noise pollution problem, and curtail or prevent future problems due to industrial noise. In the last 60 days alone, the noise pollution from the Hamer Company has increased,” she said. “It has risen from 60 to 65 decibels as measured 1/4 mile away at higher elevations.

“Recently, a new machine has started a loud clang that can be heard by those close to the plant. This new noise is particularly irritating, affecting the well-being of neighbors.”

McClane said her group is also concerned about the air pollution being released by the the plant. She said a legal advertisement appearing in The Inter-Mountain on June 29, asks for public comment about the plant being allowed to increase the amount of air pollution released.

Elkins Make it Quiet member Logan Smith also spoke with council. Smith lives in the CH Scott Historic District on the south end of Livingston Avenue. He said his family has owned the property for more than 120 years.

“Today, you have been presented evidence, testimony and signatures of over 200 citizens of Elkins, pleading for the city to introduce controls on the ability of one property owner to infringe upon the rights of others.”

He said all members of council have been made aware of the noise pollution and that “through either the lack of imagination or will, failed to make any meaningful changes to a city ordinance that was essentially copied and pasted from other municipal ordinances from around the state.”

Smith said he grew up in the house he is currently living in, and the noise that is being put out by the plant is louder now and more noises have been added to the sound. He described the noise as similar to “nails on a chalkboard.” He said the sounds that invade the interior of his home has made it impossible to enjoy any outdoor activities.

The group shared testimonials of folks affected by the noise, including Sue McMillon of 120 Harpertown Road; Richard McClane of 185 High Street; John Gallagher of High Street; Bob McCutcheon of Elkins and Jean Snedegar of Summit Street.

Smith said he ran a business at the historic Scott House and for seven years he was successful in using the facility as an indoor and outdoor event space, but during that time period the Hamer Plant began “ramping up production.” He said the multitude of noises coming from the plant caused numerous issues for his business.

He recalled one wedding where the groom and his groomsman left the event right before it began in an attempt to get the plant to reduce the noise output. He said he abandoned the idea of running a successful business at the property in 2015 due to multiple factors. He said the Scott House and acreage around the property are now listed for sale.

A press release from the Elkins Make it Quiet group sent to The Inter-Mountain on Friday by McClane states that residents describe the noise coming from the pellet plant as a “heavy industrial loud drone, often going 24 hours a day, six days and nights a week. The noise pollution is diminishing the well-being, quality of life, and property values for many Elkins homeowners as well as affecting businesses nearby.

“EMIQ is glad that 15 people have jobs at the Hamer Fuel Pellet Elkins Plant and that sub-contractors profit as well. EMIQ is only asking for the Jim C. Hamer Company and the Elkins Plant to be good neighbors and contain the noise within Hamer’s Elkins property. Experts tell us that it’s possible. We all look forward to the peaceful enjoyment of our homes, businesses and community once again.”

Council member Marilynn Counzo, Fourth Ward, said she was one of the 200 residents who have signed the petition. She urged council to have the matter discussed during a Rules and Ordinance Committee meeting.

First Ward Council member Judy Guye indicated she also signed the petition.

Council member Linda Vest, Fifth Ward, who serves as Rules and Ordinance Committee chair, said she will add the matter to the next committee meeting.