City won't support EPA fossil-fuel rule

SILOAM SPRINGS -- Siloam Springs will not back a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency that would reduce greenhouse gases from existing fossil fuel plants.

In a 7-0 vote at Tuesday's three-hour board meeting, city directors voted against Greenhouse Gas Emission Rules for Existing Power Plants, citing that the EPA was over-reaching its boundaries.

City administrator David Cameron encouraged the board to vote in opposition, stating the EPA "can't even fund themselves."

"You're going to see at a local level that we have got to impose the regulations that they have to borrow from China to even keep themselves sustainable," Cameron said. "That means we have to utilize our rate structure to keep ourselves sustainable and this is just the beginning."

He said that the power cost adjustments on monthly utility bills will continue to rise because of the use of coal-fired plants and that "clean energy will cost a fortune."

Ultimately, Cameron said, that because the rule would affect Swepco it would trickle down to the Grand River Dam Authority, which provides power to Siloam Springs.

"What affects them affects us," Cameron added. "I believe in protecting the environment, but I believe it needs to be sound science that does it and in moderation."

In the public comment session, Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Wayne Mays expressed the same opposition.

"Acknowledging the impact that the permanent and temporary workers have on our economy -- that could all be disrupted if the EPA is able to enforce these regulations," Mays said.

In other business, the board also expressed opposition for legislation for a firefighter's cancer presumption law, which would designate cancer as an occupational disease.

"The state of Arkansas is one of three states that doesn't have a presumption law," said director Brad Burns. He introduced the resolution. "Firefighters are three times more likely to develop cancer despite safety practices -- they are exposed to more environmental factors."

Director Judy Nation said that if the board agreed to special provisions they would also have to do it for other employees.

"I have a problem with a specific group being singled out," Nation said. "Cancer is something we hear about all the time and it comes from a lot of different reasons -- we don't know what causes some cancers and I am hesitant to have to pay for it."

Directors Carol Smiley and Dennis Brown agreed with Nation.

"We have police lives on the line, electrical lives on the line and I am not comfortable with a blanket OK on something I haven't read," Smiley said. "We don't control their lifestyle and it places a burden on the city."

"I appreciate firefighters greatly, but it puts (the city) at risk," Brown said.

In the public comment session, resident Ken Klute said that he needed more definitive data from the state before he can support the provision.

"Other jobs are subjected to carcinogens and are exposed to higher levels of toxicity," Klute said. "We voted as a community to help with safety equipment and protection devices for the firefighters and the police department -- we are doing everything we can without direction from a higher level."

The provision failed in a 5-2 vote. Directors Bob Coleman, Scott Jones, Nation, Smiley and Brown voted against it.

Cameron asked the board to consider a public-private partnership with John Brown University. The potential partnership would update the Walton Lifetime Health Complex recreation facility, $500,000 of the cost provided from the city. The estimated cost of the renovation is an estimated $5 to $6 million.

The board agreed to have Cameron sign a letter of support that JBU's representatives will take to potential donors.

In other business, the board approved:

• An ordinance to amend building regulations, adopt updated codes and revise obsolete provisions.

• The first reading of Ordinance No. 14-22 that would amend the rules for mobile vending.

• The acceptance of a grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for the Sager Creek Vegetable Company.

• The first reading of a right-of-way closure for Tahlequah Street.

• The second reading of an amendment to the city's animal code laws.

• A last-minute agenda item to create a committee to oversee the application process for a new city administrator.

NW News on 09/21/2014

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