JACKSON TWP — Construction delays at MarkWest gas compressor stations were discussed Thursday night at the township supervisors meeting.

Don Himber of Textor Hill Road expressed disdain about noise coming from the company’s compressor stations, despite a sound enclosure being built.

The sound enclosure covers MarkWest’s Bluestone 2, one of the company’s three gas compressor plants.

“The ordinance says you’re not supposed to be running all that equipment, but they do anyway unless we complain and it’s a pain to complain,” Himber said.

MarkWest was originally to have the enclosure complete by Dec. 11.

The township ordinance says sound cannot exceed 60 decibels for eight hours. However, temporary spikes in decibels in a shorter time do not violate the ordinance, according to supervisors.

The township will conduct sound tests on all three compressor plants.

Township manager Chris Rearick said the township “has been aware” of the noise issues that residents have had with MarkWest as well as the construction not being done on time.

“The question at that point is ‘What’s the solution?’” he said. “It wasn’t completed in the manner which we had hoped, but it was under way.”

Himber also is upset with a proposed misting system to be installed at John Bame’s dairy farm across Textor Hill Road, saying the misting will not be enough.

The farm is leased to Bame by MarkWest and cows were moved into the farm in August.

Textor Hill Road residents in the past complained about the smell of the farm’s open manure pit.

Himber called the smell “nauseating.”

“The person who takes care of it (farm) does not live there,” Himber said.

“He gets to go home and breathe fresh air. We unfortunately are exposed to it (smell) 24 hours a day.”

MarkWest special projects manager Rob McHale said the company acknowledged construction of the noise enclosure “has taken longer than anticipated,” but its completion is scheduled for this afternoon.

As for the farm, McHale said the misting system is a voluntary measure “made in good faith” by Bame.

Himber also said the farm has produced litter on residents’ properties through controlled garbage burnings.

“What doesn’t get burned flows into our yard,” he said. “I’m tired of picking up the litter.”