JEFFERSON TWP., Ohio -- A president under fire takes a walk in a neighborhood where he's not popular.

The president of PermaFix went on a community tour near his Jefferson Township plant on Wednesday morning.

The PermaFix president probably didn't change any minds this morning, though he did get credit for being willing to take even more heat after surviving a contentious community meeting last night.

PermaFix wants a $9 million contract with the U.S. Army to dispose of Hydrolysate, a by-product of nerve gas, but the residents near the plant in Jefferson Township say the plant already hurts their health, they don't want any new products being brought in.

The people that live off West Third Street near PermaFix say they've suffered unusual and numerous health ailments which many of them blame odors and emissions from the plant for the problems.

Lou Centofanti listened closely to the concerns and he admits the company faces strong opposition, but he says the company's preliminary test project proved they could safely dispose of hydrolysate and that it''s safe for the community.

Residents are not yet believing the safety claims, they say the fight to keep hydrolysate out will not end anytime soon and they don't want trucks with the nerve-agent by-product rolling down their streets.

PermaFix's president says that will be one factor in the company's decision-making process, but they'll also consider that they believe they can perform the process safely and that they have all the needed regulatory permits.

One more thing, this is the only PermaFix facility that has the new technology, but the president let slip that it could easily be installed at other PermaFix facilities.