MN Veterans Concerned About Health Risks at Homeless Community

Residents in a Minneapolis-based community for homeless veterans are saying that a massive wood chip pile across the parking lot from their apartments is causing problems to not only their property, but to their health as well.

They believe chemicals and sick trees in what the Minneapolis Park Board is calling an “earthen berm” are to blame.

People living in the community for veterans say chemicals and odor from the berm affect the air quality, saying they can’t stand outside and breathe in the air.

Debris and dust resulting from the berm covers the residents’ cars, chipping the exterior – and the dust is getting inside as well.  

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board oversees the berm.  The Board told Alpha News that as far as they know the berm poses no health concerns, but did say “We do not anticipate any debris from the earthen berm or the operation of the tree debris processing. Should any damage be caused by our operation the MPRB would be responsible and cover the identified damage.”

Residents say they don’t want to leave the veterans community, but do not want to pose further risks to their health.  The Park Board says a new site for the berm should be available “later this fall.”

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