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Jacksonville City Council, mayor approve study to find 'noxious' odor source in Murray Hill area

More than $125,000 in from the city's environmental protection fund will go toward a study by the company Envirosuite.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — (The video above is from a previous story)

A study to pinpoint the source of a 'noxious' odor causing problems in the Murray Hill area has been approved by the Jacksonville City Council and Mayor Lenny Curry.

The resolution states more than $125,000 in from the city's environmental protection fund will go toward a study by the company Envirosuite. The company is an 'environmental intelligence' software company that plans to use technology like sensors to collect data 24/7.

In February Envirosuite representatives told the Environmental Protection Board they were doing a similar study in Denver. They said the study could take about a year.

View the city resolution and how each council member voted here.

RELATED: Update: Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against Jacksonville fragrance factory, attorney to continue to pursue claims

Reports of an odor stretching miles from the Murray Hill area date back years.

In July a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by Murray Hill homeowners against IFF Chemical Holdings and International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc., claiming a Jacksonville factory's stench is destroying their way of life.

The three plaintiffs say a "noxious" odor from an IFF factory on Lane Avenue has lowered their property values and keeps them trapped inside their homes. Their attorney was seeking class action status and says she still will be.  

IFF representatives deny the Lane Avenue factory is the source of the odor.

Watch First Coast News' in-depth investigation into the issue here.

IFF spokesman Michael Munz said earlier this year the company is in compliance with its air emissions permit and pointed to a study conducted by an IFF consultant.

CHEMICAL ODOR UPDATE: City ordinance 2021-0461-E, which authorizes the hiring of Envirosuite to conduct a study of the...

Posted by Murray Hill Preservation Association on Thursday, September 2, 2021

RELATED: Legislation to address Murray Hill area odor goes before Jacksonville city council Tuesday

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