GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Commissioners in Hall County are taking matters into their hands regarding wastewater concerns with a meatpacking plant. 

At Tuesday’s county board meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to form a committee to work with JBS and the wastewater treatment plan to come up with a solution to protect public health.

Commissioner Jane Richardson is spearheading the project after receiving calls and emails from constituents.

“We have a lot of issues to be addressed even if it’s not in our wells, even if it doesn’t affect the lakes," Richardson said. "All these noncompliance issues, something needs to be done. This cannot just continue as a way of business. The fines need to be increased, that might help. I just don’t think it’s a right way to conduct a business to be to be out of compliance that often.”

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy officials attended the last meeting and presented about an incident at JBS in which two million gallons of wastewater was discharged into the Wood River, and commissioners say it's far from the first issue at the plant.

According to Richardson, Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island met with the attorney general about the issue on Tuesday

“I said the fines, they just don’t, it’s like the punishment doesn’t meet the crime,” Richardson said. "It’s way out of whack and hopefully the attorney general can do something about that because I think that would help."
 

The board also approved a letter to be sent to JBS urging them to become more accountable in policies and practices concerning air and water environmental issues. 

JBS will present a remediation plan to the Department of Environment and Energy on Thursday. The company is also charged with providing documentation of additional water quality monitoring in the Wood River.