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Neighbors complain about odor from Oakland County crematorium

Posted at 6:19 PM, Jul 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-24 18:19:44-04

NEW HUDSON, Mich. (WXYZ) — How would you like to work right next to a bunch of dead bodies?

Oakland County and state officials responded to investigate after a neighbor complained about the horrific smell coming from a crematorium in New Hudson.

Great Lakes Cremation is located off of Grand River in New Hudson. Last week when it was really hot people who work nearby started complaining about the smell.

The Lyon Township Fire Department came out and sure enough there was an odor, so it contacted the health department.

The Oakland County Health Department sent out inspectors to respond to the complaint about strong odor and flies near the crematorium that is in a commercial and industrial area. The Health Department says it found no imminent health hazard.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs inspected the facility and found no violations.

It turns out while the law requires bodies be cremated within 60 days, it does not require refrigeration. Workers say about 40 bodies were there at the time of the complaint and about half were refrigerated. The other half had just been delivered.

People who work nearby declined the opportunity to do an interview about the odor they say they deal with at times.