OTTUMWA — Some area residents say the dust, odor and noise that comes from a nearby sand and rock company as well as an asphalt business are disrupting their lives and destroying their quality of life.

Wapello County residents living near River Road and 65th Street, southeast of Ottumwa, say they have had enough of neighboring businesses, Wapello County Sand & Rock Company and the Knife River Asphalt Company.

“We have to put up with the noise daily,” said River Road resident Jack Bennett.

“The main things are the noise and the smell,” said 65th Street resident Larry Zuehlke, who lives right behind the asphalt plant.

“It’s a really strong, unbearable odor,” said Zuehlke’s son, Scott. “I came home from Cedar Rapids one day and got out of my car and just about threw up it was so bad.”

Bennett’s wife, Linda, said her existing medical problems are exasperated by the dust that comes from the sand plant, mixed with the smell from the asphalt company. She said that combination of odor and dust gives her migraine headaches.

“It’s unbearable,” she said.

“And they work long hours; it’s disruptive,” Larry Zuehlke said, adding he has to keep his windows in his home closed at all times.

“Even on the nice days when we would like to have them open, we can’t because of the smell,” he said. “The asphalt plant was actually a surprise to most of us around here.”

And it’s not just the smell and the dust, neighbors insist.

“None of [the trucks] stop,” Linda Bennett said. “If you were to sit out here and watch them, they will just keep going around the corner and expect other traffic to back up or wait on them to turn.”

Scott Zuehlke said he used to ride his bike in the area. That’s no longer feasible, he claims.

“Most of the trucks do not stop at the signs and I’ve almost got hit by a couple of them,” he said. “So I quit riding my bike.”

“We’ve contacted the [Wapello County Sheriff’s Department], the [Iowa Department of Transportation], the Iowa State Patrol and the [Wapello County Board of] supervisors and it seems like nothing is being done about any of this.”

Area residents also claim the companies are working beyond restricted working hours.