By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster city officials have not reported any more issues with an “illegal organic dump” site near the intersection of U.S. 31 and Old Highway 31 since discovering the problem in mid-March.

In an Aug. 4 email, Alabaster City Manager George Henry said the city has not received any more reports of illegal dumping in the area, and said the city’s police department has been patrolling the area in an effort to prevent it from happening again in the future.

After the Alabama Department of Transportation, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management cleaned the site in late March, the agencies determined a truck had been dumping chicken fecal matter into a storm ditch near the intersection.

The agencies determined the site did not present a danger to the public.

The Alabaster Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit responded to the intersection of U.S. 31 and Old Highway 31 on March 19 after city crews discovered the source of a “horrible smell” reported by area residents and drivers, Henry said previously.

As of Aug. 4, Henry said authorities had not yet located the party responsible for the illegal dumping, but said Alabaster police officers are still patrolling the area regularly.

Anyone who sees a truck parked near the intersection is encouraged to call the Alabaster Police Department at 663-7401.