Some Snellville City Council members are waging a battle to try and stop the opening of a crematory near homes, a fight the mayor said is all political posturing.

Council member Kelly Kautz said she's concerned about mercury emissions from metal dental fillings vaporized during the cremation process.

She plans to make a motion during Monday night's City Council meeting for a resolution to direct City Manager Russell Treadway to study whether the business could have an environmental impact.

Kautz said she plans to bring a mercury expert in from Missouri to speak at the public meeting Monday night.

Kautz's concerns are shared by some residents who live behind the former home that is being turned into a crematory at U.S. 78 and Abington Drive.

Brandon Persaud, age 11, wrote a letter to Gov. Sonny Perdue asking for help blocking Cremation Society of the South's Snellville location. He said he spends most days at his relatives' house next to the crematory site, swimming, riding bikes and playing outside.

"Now I am starting to feel very uncomfortable knowing that the crematory will burn dead bodies and the scent will be in the air which I know is unhealthy and causes sickness," he wrote in his letter.

At a city meeting earlier this month, Brandon read his letter and Shaib Bakayok, 12, told city leaders: "I'm probably going to get sick because of this."

The room full of about 200 residents applauded and nodded in agreement after both boys spoke.

Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer said Friday that there are bigger environmental health risks from traffic on the bustling highway with about 35,000 cars, which emit carbon monoxide, daily driving through the area.

Along with environmental concerns, Mayor Pro Tem Warren Auld said he doesn't think the crematory meets other state requirements. He said the business is supposed to have 30 seats to accommodate a memorial service.

Under Snellville code, that would require at least 12 parking spaces, he said.

The mayor said the crematory won't have services and therefore doesn't need any more parking spaces than the eight that are being built.

This week, crematory owner Chris Nuzum filed for a Certificate of Occupancy, a permit required for any business to open its doors in Snellville.

Auld said he plans to make a motion Monday that will, in part, stop the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy until city employees look further at the crematory's possible impact on the community.

Nuzum has not returned calls seeking comment Tuesday and Friday.

The mayor said Nuzum, who is willing to address neighbors' concerns, is frustrated by residents' emotional fight against his business.

"He's following the rules and now he's become the bad guy in this," the mayor said.

Oberholtzer said he had his own concerns until he toured the crematory location.

"It's not like he's doing it in his fireplace. It's a high-tech piece of equipment," the mayor said. "You shouldn't smell anything and there should be no smoke."

Kautz and Auld say they have legitimate concerns and are acting to protect residents.

Oberholtzer said both are seeking political gain by siding with residents over a heated issue even though the business owner has acted within the law.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. at 2342 Oak Road.

IF YOU GO

What: Snellville Cty Council meeting, 2342 Oak Road.

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

At issue: Proposed crematory