BELLA VISTA -- Several residents attended the City Council meeting Monday.
Twenty people came to address the council and more filled the court facility, occupying most of the chairs in it. About 15 people stood alongside either wall.
Some spoke in support of the city's trail system and to congratulate former mayor and current City Council member Frank Anderson on his retirement. His term ends Jan. 1.
The majority brought complaints regarding the burning former stump dump site off Trafalgar Road.
After the initial 30 minutes allotted for public comment, council members voted unanimously in favor of extending the public comment portion of the meeting by 30 minutes.
Among those speaking was Bella Vista resident Amber Goin, who said she was upset about a lack of response from officials and concerned for the health of her family.
"It's been 142 days today," she said. "One hundred, forty-two days of no solution, 142 days of no leadership."
Joseph Bollinger addressed the council as well, comparing the ongoing underground fire to issues faced by Flint, Mich., which has suffered from lead contaminated water and Centralia, Pa., where an underground fire has continued for decades.
Bollinger said he's concerned by high particulate matter readings in the area.
"It makes me very sad to know my 14-year-old son breathes this air every day," he said.
In addition to health concerns, Bollinger said this fire is likely to drastically affect property values.
"What proposals have you made to help these people?" he asked. "Help them now, today, tomorrow. Four months ago. These people need help and they cannot wait for government studies."
Mayor Peter Christie said he appreciated all the input citizens have brought.
"Just because the city's firefighters aren't out at the stump dump with a water hose doesn't mean the city is not ... concerned about your health and well-being," he told the audience. "This fire is not something your city officials or staff take lightly."
The fire can't simply be doused with water, he explained, because it could pollute the Lake Ann watershed.
The city is working with the EPA and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, he said, and there are three options being considered to extinguish the fire, each with its own pros and cons.
Foam could put out the fire, but can also pollute the ground, he said. Trenches can be cut, but this still involves water. Another option is excavating the burning debris and taking it elsewhere to be extinguished, but he cautioned that excavation will make the air quality worse until the process concludes.
"You have to be very, very careful," he said.
In the meantime, he suggested residents continue doing what they have been: staying inside, running air filtration systems and using respirator masks outside.
"You must do what you need to do to protect your family," he said.
The council also approved Steven Bourke's appointment to the empty seat he was elected to in this year's runoff election, hiring a firm for janitorial services in city facilities and a $3,263,961.90 contract for the construction of tunnels for the trail system using grant money.
NW News on 12/18/2018