The city of Kaufman, whose Zoning Board of Adjustment had ordered the Dallas
Crown Inc. horse meat plant to close by Sept. 30, has agreed to allow it to
stay open until state District Judge Michael Chitty rules after a trial set for
Jan. 29.
Kaufman has cited Dallas Crown for nearly 30 wastewater violations, saying
material from the slaughterhouse exceeded city standards and strained the city
sewage plant's abilities.
After neighbors repeatedly complained about flies, spilled blood, exposed
animal parts and a stench, the board in March declared the business a nuisance
to public health and safety.
Because both the city and Dallas Crown have asked for summary judgments from
Judge Chitty, he could still hold a hearing this fall. In such a hearing, City
Attorney David Dodd said, the judge could rule entirely for one side or the
other, give each side part of what it wants or deny both sides anything they
have asked for. How or whether the trial occurs could depend on that hearing.
But the local legal moves could be meaningless if Congress bans horse
slaughter for human consumption. The House plans a vote on Sept. 7, and
industry officials have conceded that Congress has the authority to enact a
ban.
E-mail jgetz@dallasnews.com