SPRINGDALE — The city should have a working and outfitted hazardous materials team ready for the first of the year, when it leaves the Regional Hazardous Materials Team.

“We should be able to handle all our typical hazardous calls,” said Fire Chief Mike Irwin. “If something really bad came up, we will have mutual aid agreements with other cities that would help us, just as we would help them.”

The City Council Street and Capital Improvement Program Committee recommended to the full council spending $134,175 to equip the city’s team. The purchase would allow the city to equip a bare-bones team, Irwin said.

The fire department responds to about 100 calls about hazardous materials, Irwin said, most usually on the level of gasoline diesel fuel spilled during an accident.

“Those where we call out the full team, maybe five a year,” Irwin said.

The largest response recently was in February, when simultaneous ammonia leaks at poultry plants caused the evacuation of about 1,000 workers. The leaks were at the Tyson Berry Street Plant and the Cargill turkey plant on Randall Wobbe Road.

Eventually 10 people were treated at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale.

“We handled all of that on our own,” Irwin said.

The ability to deal with an emergency of such a large size made the decision to leave the regional hazmat team easier, Irwin said.

Springdale and Fayetteville announced in July their withdrawal from the regional team. Rogers previously pulled out.

The members of the team included Benton and Washington counties and several of the larger cities in the area. The cost was divided by population, with Springdale’s portion climbing to $23,000. Previously, it paid $17,000 per year. The portion went up with Rogers dropping out and Springdale’s higher population in the 2010 U.S. Census.

“It should be cheaper for us after the cost to get started,” Irwin said. “What we’ll need after this is supplies.”

The department asked for about $60,000 in supplies to begin, with the biggest item protective suits. The rest of the money would be spent on a hazmat truck, Irwin said.

A used soft-drink delivery truck, with several roll-down doors, might possibly be used, Irwin said, since it allow separated storage with easy access.

Alderman Jim Reed asked if any equipment from the Regional Hazmat team would be coming to Springdale. The availability of any equipment is not yet known, Irwin said.

“We still don’t know if the regional team will continue,” Irwin said.

“I don’t see how it could go on,” said Mayor Doug Sprouse, “but it might. We just don’t know what will happen with it.

Bentonville, Bella Vista and Siloam Springs, as well as the counties, are still members, Irwin said.