*--startindex*
EXETER TWP., Pa. -- A local poultry plant has been ordered to stop discharging its industrial waste by tomorrow.
The owner of the plant said that order from Exeter Township in Berks County will shut down the operation and put 185 people out of work.
Exeter Township officials would not speak on camera, but they did spell out their argument in the cease and desist order it gave to the Mehadrin Kosher Poultry plant yesterday.
Without getting too technical, the township said the poultry plant is discharging too many gallons of waste water per day and it's late on payments for using the sewer system.
The plant said it processes 70 to 80 birds per minute.
Exeter Township said, during that process, the poultry plant is sending too much sewage per day to the township's sewer plant.
Mehadrin said how much it discharges should be looked at on a monthly basis because it operates just four days a week.
Mehadrin's lawyer said the two sides have a dispute, but the township shouldn't order the plant closed in 48 hours because of it.
Let's argue about it, said Joseph Bambrick. We'll present our evidence. We'll be very happy to present our evidence, but don't wipe out 185 jobs while you are doing it, plus the suppliers and the customers.
There is also the issue of money. The township said the poultry plant is behind in paying its sewage bill, which is more than $100,000.
But we're willing to pay a bill, said Bambrick. That's not going to shut us down because we're not paying a bill. We're willing to pay a bill to keep the place operating.
Mehadrin said it uses a lot of ice in packing the chickens.
The township calculates how much the company owes to the sewage plant based on how much water it takes in, but Mehadrin argues it doesn't put out what the township says it does, and therefore their bill should be lower.
The company said it hasn't paid its bill because it wants to talk it over.
I don't want to shut this place down over a bill, said Bambrick. It's just a dispute.
Bambrick said he will go before a judge tomorrow at 1:30 to argue not to enforce the cease and desist order until there is a trial.*--stopindex*
