Resident says odor remains near Freewood Acres homes
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

HOWELL - Kenneth Harper, who has lived in Howell's Freewood Acres neighborhood off Route 9 for 15 years, had 18 guests at his home on Thanksgiving. Instead of smelling the sweet aroma of turkey, stuffing and candied yams, Harper's guests focused on a lingering odor and asked their host, "Hey, what's that smell?"

In recent months, residents of the neighborhood said that for about four years they have endured an unpleasant smell that comes from a sewer line that runs near their homes.

This summer the residents of Freewood Acres urged the Township Council and the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority (MRRSA) to come up with a solution to a situation that they say stinks.

The MRRSA, which has its headquarters on Havens Bridge Road in Howell and serves several communities in Monmouth County, including Howell, owns the sewer line that transports sewage to a treatment plant in Ocean County.

After much anticipation that something would be done, Harper said this week that there has been very little action from officials and he said the "stink continues."

"The stink is horrible. The only thing I can say has gotten better is that we are not losing water in our toilets. Instead of it venting through our house, it is now out in the open …"

He said despite that change, "the smell is moving more and more up the road."

According to previous reports published by Greater Media Newspapers, physical solutions to mitigate the odor were supposed to be implemented during the first week of November. Harper said the only improvement he has seen is the weekly installation of carbon air filters to the manholes.

The MRRSA and the township have been trading ideas and proposals about how to deal with the problem for several months, since the issue came to light.

Mayor Joseph DiBella has asked Township Manager Helene Schlegel to obtain a written updated status report and to invite the sides to meet and explain what is happening.