State fire marshal wants to close VIM Recycling plant

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

Tools

State fire marshal wants VIM Recycling plant in Elkhart to close for code violations

The Indiana state fire marshal wants the VIM Recycling plant in Elkhart closed until three specific safety violations are brought up to code. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Feb 26, 2008 at 5:18 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 4, 2008 at 6:04 PM EST

ELKHART — There are more problems for the VIM Recycling plant in Elkhart. A suit has been filed that could shut down the operation.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

Last summer a massive fire at the plant killed one employee, injured another and gutted the facility.

Since then the company says it has worked with the state to make improvements to prevent it from happening again.

But the state fire marshal says that's not the case. He's suing to have the company closed until all alleged code violations are taken care of.

“This is flat out surprising for us,” VIM spokesman Tom Holt told WSBT News.

The state fire marshal has filed for an injunction to close the VIM plant until three specific violations are brought up to code.

According to the state, VIM still needs better access for fire trucks, they need to limit the size of scrap wood piles, and improve ways to monitor the temperatures of those piles.

However, the company says all of that has already been fixed.

"The alleged violations are the same violations from the August 6 inspection that we abated on September 26,” explained Holt. “It is shocking, considering that we are in compliance. If you go out to the site today you’ll see that the things they are questioning have been taken care of."

Holt says state environmental officials were just there.

“IDEM was actually out at the site on Friday looking over the area and making sure we were in compliance,” he said.

Neighbors who live by the recycling plant say they feel the lawsuit backs up their contentions that improvements still need to be made to the operation.

"Well we're really excited about it, and we feel like this has been a great boost to us at this time and we're glad that the fire marshal has entered into the picture,” said neighbor Joyce Bellows.

"We were not out here to put anybody out of business,” said Brandy Trosper, who also lives by the plant. “We just want them to follow the rules and stay on the regulations and run the way any other company has to run.”

Company officials say they may have to resolve these issues in court.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

Current Temp 45.9

More Weather

WSBT Weather

More Weather

On Demand

iPhone
Get the WSBT News and Irish Sports Report apps for your iPhone! Read more »
On DVD
Order a DVD of a WSBT news story! Read more »
Twitter
Follow us on Twitter! Read more »
Facebook
Connect with us on Facebook! Read more »
WSBT E-News
Daily StormTracker e-mails right to your Inbox! Read more »
Video On Demand
Miss a story on WSBT News? Watch it here! Read more »
CBS Shows
Watch CBS shows and news online, free! Read more »
WSBT Alert
Breaking News & Weather right to your cell phone! Read more »
Mobile
WSBT News on the go for your cell phone or PDA. Read more »
RSS Feeds
Get news and updates as soon as they're published. Read more »

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.