Officials: Odors may keep away visitors

ALPENA -- Local business and tourism leaders in Alpena fear the strong odors periodically produced from Decorative Panels International could negatively impact the number of people visiting downtown or choosing the area as a destination.

On several occasions this summer, unpleasant odors have swept through the city, including downtown.

The smell -- which is produced from the plant's manufacturing process and storage lagoons -- has been described by state inspectors as being overpowering and intolerable for any length of time.

Officials fear if smells become more frequent, or stronger, people will choose to stay away from downtown and the city.

Anne Gentry, Alpena Downtown Development Authority executive director said she has received inquiries from people who want to know what the smell is and where it comes from. She said business owners are also concerned that if the odor problem isn't addressed, fewer people may visit downtown stores and restaurants.

"With everything happening in our downtown, with the downtown dining, social district, boat harbor's revitalization, and our expansion into North Second Avenue, it is the first thing you notice when the wind is blowing a certain way," Gentry said. "That is not the kind of face we want to put on when people are here for the first time, or anytime really."

Tourism is a key component of Alpena's economy and a lot of hard work has been done to promote it as a destination for outdoor activities. It has become a regular stop for a cruise ship and people visit from all over the nation or vacation locally.

Mary Beth Stutzman, Alpena Convention and Visitors Bureau president, said Alpena only has one opportunity to make a good first impression to its guests, and having foul odors greet visitors is not the way to make that first interaction a positive one.

"When people visit our community, they don't expect to be met with negative things to contend with and an obnoxious smell is not something they are hoping to experience when they are here," she said. "If someone comes into a community, and are turned off, even in a slight way, they might leave, not come back, and tell everyone about their negative experience."

Abitibi, and now DPI have always produced odors, but over the last couple of years, there have been instances where the smells are more severe.

Stutzman said a handful of years ago there was a joint meeting in Alpena with the Michigan Travel Commission and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She said part of the visit included some outdoor activities and when the contingent arrived to their planned excursion, they were met with the familiar smells of the plant.

"The head of the Michigan Travel Industry leaned over to me and said 'You have to get a handle on that smell because it is going to begin to affect your community in a negative way,'" Stutzman said. "That is when I started to ask around about the smell and honestly, I gave up because I felt I wasn't being taken seriously. I was even told that was the smell of money and to leave it alone."

The DDA is in the process of expanding its boundaries further into Alpena's north side, where the smells are often at their worst. Gentry said she fears interest in opening a new business or expanding one could be reduced because of the odors.

"If you want to open a business and have outdoor dining, do you want your customers to be greeted by that scent?" she said. "I think there are implications in my mind for businesses."

Last week, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Air Quality Division released a violation notice, citing DPI for creating intolerable and overwhelming odors, which the state department says it caused during the production process and from the lagoon.

State inspectors tabbed the odor a Level 4 on EGLE's odor scale, indicating "distinct and definite objectionable odor."

The company was given two weeks to report the cause of the smell and its plan to address it.

Last June, the state issued a Level 3 violation against DPI when the business was discovered to have several piles of decayed bi-product waste on its property that had to be removed.