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Mountain Home City Council is positioning itself to speak out against the potential selling and reopening of the NABORS landfill in its City Council meeting tonight.
Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams, who currently sits on the board of the Ozark Mountain Solid Waste District, has spoken out publicly against the sale, despite the last minute push of the district’s board to sell the property to Illinois-based company, LRS.
Because the sale is expected to be eminent, with former Bull Shoals Mayor David Nixon already signing the agreement as the chairman for the board, the Mountain Home City Council will be discussing resolution to oppose the sale of controversial landfill to an out of state company.
The resolution states:
WHEREAS, it is the understanding of the City of Mountain Home that LRS, an independent waste diversion, recycling and portable service provider, is in the process of acquiring the landfill commonly known as NABORS Landfill;
WHEREAS, upon acquisition of the NABORS Landfill, LRS would be in a position to apply for permits from the State of Arkansas to open new landfill cells; and
WHEREAS, the existing landfill is unsuitable and was previously closed and capped. The reopening of the landfill would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Mountain Home and to the natural resources of North Central Arkansas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNTAIN HOME, ARKANSAS.
1: That the City of Mountain Home opposes the sale, permitting and/or the reopening of the NABOR’s Landfill. Such action would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Mountain Home, Arkansas and to the natural resources of North Central Arkansas.
If passed, the resolution would see the city joining the Baxter County Quorum Court, which passed its own resolution opposing the sale of NABORS landfill during its session Tuesday evening.
It should be noted that while resolutions show solidarity with the public in opposing the sale of the landfill, they will ultimately do little to stop the sale from going through if LRS decides to sign the dotted line with the Ozark Mountain Solid Waste District.
The ability for the public to organize and speak out against the planned sale has been hampered by a general silence on the part of some elected officials inside Baxter county that knew of the deal several weeks to months in advance.
Ultimately, the sale could easily go through, but that does not mean the landfill will be reopened. While the public may view the reopening as a personal or moral matter, the case for reopening the landfill will be a legal one.
NABORS landfill has a long and sordid history in Arkansas courts that resulted in it shutting down for good. If LRS purchases the property and applies for permits to re-open the site, it will most likely face an uphill battle in the form of multiple lawsuits attempting to keep the landfill shuttered.
Until the sale is either declined or finalized, the public will be able to do little more than speak out against the sale.
The story around the NABORS landfill sale is still a developing story. More articles to follow as things progress.
Other Council news
In other City Council news, Mayor Adams and the City Council will also spend the evening organizing the city’s new government. This process will include the passing of an ordinance detailing how the government will work for 2023 and will also see the creation of the city’s various committees.
The city will also take another look at its previously discussed noise ordinance, and will also discuss another contract with Garver to manage the work being done on the city’s sewer system.
