MESQUITE, N.M. -- A Mesquite company is trying to win back confidence from the community in which it resides, but that might be tough after several residents got a lawyer and filed a lawsuit against the company Wednesday.

The Helena Chemical Company held a community meeting Thursday night and offered tours, but some residents said they don't believe what the company has to say. They said they have reasons of their own to believe the chemical company is harming the community.

Isaac Lopez and and his wife moved from Mesquite because of what they said are problems with their health.

“We would call the cops because we would smell the strong aroma of ammonia,” said Lopez, who moved to San Miguel.

Others cited specific health problems.

“Upper respiratory problems, pneumonia and bad allergies, bloody noses,” said Pamela Uribe of Mesquite.

“There was a reaction of some manufacturing that was done. It was a permitted process, and it had a steam plume years ago. We have ceased doing that,” said Louis Rodrigue, Helena’s vice president of the southern business unit.

Mequite residents are confident the Helena fertilizer storage and distribution plant is making them sick, but company officials said a spill in the past and violations that have been since corrected have tainted their image.

“The open house is all about allowing the community to come on site in an orderly way so that we can take down the veil of mystique that surrounds us,” said Rodrigue.

Some of the residents of Mesquite have filed a lawsuit Wednesday.

“It's a negligence lawsuit against Helena for basically contamination of air and water. The underground water has been contaminated,” said Linda Thomas, an attorney for some of the residents.

She said the residents blame the company for negative results on water tests. Helena said it doesn't release chemicals because everything is contained.

Earlier this year, the company completed a study that it said clears it of contaminating the air and water. It is now asking the EPA to no longer require it to have a permit to operate.

“We are going to show them evidence that we can operate safely. We don't have emissions from this site that are complicating their health,” said Rodrigue.

"They pose themselves as the company that's been working with the community, and they haven't,” said Lopez.

Helena said everything is safe according to EPA standards. They said their independant study done by a private company is what allows them to prove they are in the clear, Meanwhile the residents said their health files are two inches thick because of the company.