It's time to clear the air in Morganton

Morganton has a smell problem, and residents are organizing to demand answers.

A sensible, concerted and persistent strategy is underway: an interactive website, a petition, and presentations before city council.

The residents behind the effort say their goal isn’t to point fingers. They simply want the stench to go away.

They want to open their windows on a pleasant day without an overpowering odor filling their homes.

They want to work in their yards, walk their neighborhoods, and spend time outdoors without wondering when the smell will return.

They want to invite friends and family over without having to explain why the air outside suddenly smells so bad.

Those are not unreasonable expectations.

Residents have begun documenting when and where they encounter the odor. They have encouraged one another to submit complaints to state regulators. A website, cleartheairmorganton.com, was created to make reporting the smell easier. And now an online petition seeking action is growing by more than 100 signatures a day since it launched Oct. 31. (See related story on Page 1A.)

Organizers of the newly launched website say 40-plus complaints have been submitted this year through the link on cleartheairmorganton.com.

For longtime residents, the smell is nothing new. Between 2013 and 2022, records show that the state received 12 odor complaints from Morganton.

Whatever anyone thinks about the possible source, one thing should be obvious: The smell hasn’t gone away.

Downtown business owners have told The Paper that customers complain about the smell and sometimes move indoors rather than eat outside. Residents have described leaving outdoor events because they could no longer tolerate the stench.

That should concern everyone with a stake in Morganton's quality of life and economic vitality.

And there is another reason for urgency.

In March, Morganton will host the 2027 North Carolina Main Street Conference, bringing hundreds of visitors from inside and outside the state into downtown. It will be an opportunity to showcase the investments that have transformed downtown Morganton, its restaurants and businesses, its public spaces, and the community that has grown around them.

The City should not have to wonder whether visitors' first impression will instead be an overpowering odor.

There are several possible pieces to the puzzle.

Case Farms operates a major poultry-processing facility in the area and is one of Burke County's largest employers. Some have suggested that the plant is the source of the smell. State regulators have not concluded that Case Farms is responsible. Officials also have not identified the Morganton sewer system as the source either.

Perhaps one source is responsible. Perhaps there are multiple sources. Perhaps operating conditions, weather patterns, or a combination of factors make the odor worse at certain times.

The public does not yet know.

That is precisely why the City of Morganton and Case Farms should work openly and transparently to find out.

Case Farms should explain what odor-control systems are operating at its Rand Street facility, what steps it has taken to investigate complaints, and whether additional measures are being considered.

City of Morganton officials should clearly explain what they have tested, what they have ruled out, and what remains under investigation.

Both should compare operational data with the dates, times, and locations of resident complaints. If necessary, they should jointly bring in independent environmental experts to help identify the source.

And they should regularly tell the public what they are learning.

No one needs to accept blame before agreeing to help solve the problem. That is the larger point residents are making.

They are not asking for accusations. They are asking for fresh air.

Morganton has invested heavily in making downtown a place where people want to live, dine, shop, attend concerts, and spend time outdoors. Families have invested in their homes and neighborhoods. Businesses have invested their livelihoods here.

In just a few months, hundreds of visitors will come to Morganton for a conference devoted to downtown revitalization and the success of Main Street communities. Morganton has much to be proud of and much worth showing them.

It is time for the City of Morganton and Case Farms to be upfront with the community about what they are doing, what they are finding, and how they are working toward a resolution.

Finding the source may take time. Showing the community that everyone is committed to finding a solution should not.

It’s not a rush to assign blame. It’s a push to find answers.