Wibros Civil Trial Delayed

The Wilbros civil trial will not start next Tuesday as was first scheduled.

Stephens County, the City of Toccoa, the Stephens County School System, and a non-profit group,  Concerned Citizens of Toccoa-Stephens County, are suing the biofuel, rendering plant over the noxious odors coming from the operation on Rose Lane in Toccoa. 

The plant is located at the corner of Rose Lane and Hwy 145, just down the road from the Stephens County Middle School, the county Senior Center, the Stephens County Recreation Center, and several subdivisions.

Stephens County Attorney Brian Ranck said Judge Robert Adamson has granted a continuance in the trial at the request of Wilbros in order to allow the company to construct and implement an “in vessel” composting process.

According to Ranck, “in vessel” composting involves cycling the material to be composted through an indoor process for the first 7 days. He said that Wilbros is about to start construction on the process.

Wikepedia defines “in vessel” composting systems as  consisting of metal or plastic tanks or concrete bunkers in which air flow and temperature can be controlled, using the principles of a “bioreactor“. 

Generally, the air circulation is metered in via buried tubes that allow fresh air to be injected under pressure, with the exhaust being extracted through a biofilter, with temperature and moisture conditions monitored using probes in the mass to allow maintenance of optimum aerobic decomposition conditions. 

This technique is generally used for municipal scale organic waste processing, including final treatment of sewage biosolids, to a safe stable state for reclamation as a soil amendment.  In-vessel composting can also refer to aerated staticpile composting with the addition of removable covers that enclose the piles.

Ranck said that Judge Adamson said he wants to see in vessel composting helps the odor situation.  He added that the judge has also asked experts to make additional recommendations of other steps Wilbros could take to abate the odors.

During a pre-trial meeting on April 30, Judge Adamson had asked attorneys for the county and other plaintiffs as well as Wilbros to have their experts meet and see if a settlement could be reached.

Ranck said he and the county commissioners hope these steps, plus those already taken in response to the civil lawsuit will get rid of the smell.

With the continuance granted, Stephens County Clerk of Court Tim Quick reported that jurors who received a summons for Tuesday, May 21 do not have to report.