CENTREVILLE &045; On Tuesday, town aldermen here heard from about a dozen residents who say their complaint about a strong odor from a cattle feedlot in their neighborhood is no line of bull.

&uot;The odor is just getting unbearable, and there are flies and mosquitoes.

It seems like it’s just getting worse,&uot; said John White, who lives across the street from the feedlot south of town.

The group asked the board if it could take any action to improve those conditions.

&uot;We want everybody to make a living, and these boys work hard, but all we have is pollution,&uot; said Raymond Jenkins, another member of the group.

Other residents voiced concerns about possible health issues and declining property values.

Board attorney John Redhead said a town ordinance exists to control offensive odors coming from animals.

But Redhead noted that the feedlot &045; located adjacent to Highway 24 and Hospital Road on property owned by Centreville resident Joyce Vine &045; is only partially inside the city limits.

Redhead told the group that its complaints concerning the feedlot operations outside of town would have to be pursued at the county level, but residents said they would prefer to resolve the issue without going to court.

&uot;We don’t want to take legal action against someone.

That’s not what we’re here for,&uot; said White, who suggested that treating the feedlot with lime would help.

Board members agreed to contact Vine on behalf of the group and ask if anything could be done to help the situation.

An attempt to reach Vine at her residence on Wednesday was unsuccessful, but Centreville Mayor David Owens said he talked to Vine and was hopeful that improvements would be made.

&uot;She does plan to treat the pasture with lime to relieve the odor.

That should help,&uot; said Owens.

In other action, the board discussed the possibility of collecting $6,732 in franchise taxes owed by Cable South Inc. The debt has accumulated since 1999, according to Town Clerk Michele Singleton.

Cable South has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the company is now owned by Cable Trust of Jackson, Singleton said.