A Trigg County factory that has been on the wrong end of numerous complaints from the community received more from neighbors during the fiscal court meeting Monday evening.
Vertical Wellness, a hemp processing facility, opened its doors in Cadiz in October 2018. The complaints, which have increased exponentially in recent months, mainly reference the smoke and smell produced during the drying process.
Dawn Grady lives about a mile downwind from the facility and is an environmental engineer. Grady told magistrates she began asking the state questions when she noticed they were emitting way more smoke than allowed.
Vertical Wellness has been shut down since November 10, but the exact reason for the closure is unknown. Grady said she had filed a complaint with the state about the facility.
June Ezell, another neighbor to the facility, said these issues have been occurring since March.
Paul Greene, who has lived in the neighborhood near the facility off and on for many decades, said his wife is now suffering side effects from inhaling too much carbon monoxide.
Other complaints from neighbors and even other community members have included not being able to see sometimes while driving U.S. 68/Kentucky 80 near the plant and its harmful effects on the nearby ground.
After hearing the comments, Judge Executive Hollis Alexander said numerous officials had been out to take a look at Vertical Wellness.
Vertical Wellness operates a 90,000 square foot facility, one of the country’s largest hemp CBD facilities. Last year, officials said they were expected to produce over 200,000 liters of CBD, worth over $500 million in Cadiz. The facility is located at 134 Roger Thomas Road.
