JBS Swift is the largest customer of the city wastewater treatment plant and has an agreement not to exceed certain amounts of discharged wastewater to the city's facility. JBS Swift has been regularly exceeding that level and overloading the city's water treatment capacity.

The temporary closing of the meatpacker would be a blow to the region, even if only for a few days. The economic impact on the workers and cattle providers would ripple through the area. The company would lose millions of dollars in quick order.

But the mayor has no choice in the matter. JBS Swift officials have said they are working to remedy the problem. However, until the issue is resolved, the city cannot risk further polluting the Wood River downstream of the plant where the treated water is released. A recent fish-kill event saw over 10,000 fish poisoned just east of the discharge area and it is believed that the city's treated water was a major factor. While not proved conclusively at this point, the city is still at risk for major fines of up to $10,000 a day by the state Department of Environmental Quality. More important, the damage to the wildlife downstream cannot continue for any reason.

The mayor is right to be firm with the meatpacker. Nobody wants to see the company or its suppliers and employees hurt by closing the plant, but the mayor has to look out for the larger good of the city to limit the damage created by this series of incidents.