“We also have the highest loading, which means we have the most sludge and the most vapors and compounds to break down through this unit. That’s adding to the problem,” Nelson said.

The sanitation district sent off samples to the company in Canada that makes the machine that should eliminate the smell. But the samples came back as normal, and now the sanitation district is hoping for a home visit from the manufacturer.

“That’s great that they’re admitting it and trying to find a solution,” West said.

“We want to be good neighbors and we definitely want it to smell as good as we can make it,” Nelson said.

There was a theory that the frigid sub-zero temperatures in late December and early January created an inversion layer and didn’t let the exhaust mix in the atmosphere. There’s another theory that the bacteria used to defuse the smell isn’t working properly. That’s one of the things the sanitation district is hoping will get worked out soon.