TONTITOWN, Ark. — A complaint to the Tontitown mayor was filed by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) after reports of trash being burned during an air quality test in February.
The complaint said smoke was coming from Mayor Angela Russell's residence in Tontitown where she was allegedly burning materials on Feb. 6 around 8:20 a.m., which was the second day of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's (ADEE) five-day air monitoring test.
ADEE deployed the National Guard in December after receiving several resident complaints about alleged fumes from the Eco-Vista Landfill.
Earlier that month, Mayor Russell alleged she had to go to the hospital after the landfill's fumes made her ill.
The address listed in the complaint is in the Arbor Acres Avenue area, which is near the Eco-Vista landfill.
In the recent complaint, ADEQ says they "strongly discourage open burning of any material."
The ADEQ asked the mayor to "consider alternatives for the disposal of waste for the prevention of fire hazards, the protection of air quality in your community as well as consideration for those who live in the immediate surroundings."
Here are some of the recommendations suggested by ADEQ:
- Mulch grass clippings and leave them on the ground for a healthier lawn
- Mulch fallen leaves to use on your lawn, shrubs, and flower beds
- Compost yard waste and add to your soil to enrich
Russell told 5NEWS that she would never interfere with the air test, and that her family received approval from the local fire department to burn the materials for the purpose of preparing an annual garden.
The city had not been notified of the air tests at the time they began the burning, and they stopped once they knew, Russell said.
Furthermore, Russell said the ADEQ complaint was inaccurate as there was no wood trim burned that day.
The ADEQ said any further open burning incidents and "any other information pertaining to these incidents" could result in fines of up to $10,000 each.
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