FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- The city of Franklin will hold a public hearing over the mysterious smell that has plagued parts of the city for a year now. Channel 4 was first to report about how dozens of Franklin residents have complained about a smell coming from the Superior Essex plant.

It's a great day to be outside in Franklin, the most comfortable July 3 in years -- that is, if the wind is blowing the right way.

"When I walk out in the morning, it sometimes hits me in the face like bang, like a stick," said one Franklin resident.

The state's Division of Air Pollution Control has been to the Essex facility three times and found no problems. The state told Channel 4 it will now move on to "a more refined testing of the emissions at the Essex process stacks and roof monitors."

Essex has hired an environmental consultant and a public relations firm to deal with the odor issue. Since the plant operating permit expires this year, District 3 Alderman Mike Skinner has been able to arrange a public hearing to discuss Essex's permit renewal.

"It will give the plant an opportunity to explain to the citizens what kinds of things they've done, what extra measures they've taken to try to curtail this odor," said NAME.

Resident John Hunt said that after being exposed to the odor for a year, residents have a right to know exactly what they have been inhaling.

The public hearing date has not been set because Superior Essex has not finished its application.

Franklin residents are encouraged to keep a log, writing down the date and time the odor hits their neighborhood.