[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6583122,"mediaKeyId","3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb","parentId",3045245,"title","Resident reports repeated exposure to chemical vapors near Eco Vista landfill; asks county for hazardous-materials response capability","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",337000,"endMs",525000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb&start=337&end=525","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb/thumbnail_337000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583122/Washington-County/Arkansas/Resident-reports-repeated-exposure-to-chemical-vapors-near-Eco-Vista-landfill-asks-county-for-hazardous-materials-response-capability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583122-61ba9e59b8e53df5e4fa57bfb7ceb2e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152173&Signature=KxcEO9tqde6vFhhLCnxUS446~P0I9QpeixRoMHkjoUe8Lod2eqvuSM5~xhoc3GzvzU9G7LPOO5OSMXd0VA87wGzxMhIVLC~JoNXcRKRdbaaxSgT0ODqAd3~bciNwQ6r4ufpychxr~FTU~88xO050lIpvuFHyw2aObaFAdDYBSn3naXuZmyj6FV60WPvKjpp~i9Mbf5QAr9II48Svh-tOer1YMezQoISgq~LjPMS1-0Lln62lD9JNzwld5SfuVveqo~eZCHeJF5il1nGFTplul53x~OVpD6alaR64yx41KlTdzproGogAec8b0YvK4vkJ3sYEkrXoTLksSXXy4EYRkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County","date","2025-04-18T01:05:50.803Z","article","During the citizen-comment period, Kenneth Lovett said he had been exposed to hazardous chemical vapors while driving near the Eco Vista landfill on Jan. 14, 2025 and that subsequent agency responses have not identified the emission point or adequately investigated. Lovett told the court he had spoken with ADQ and other agencies over four years and that agencies had identified five hazardous chemicals in the community, naming one chemical (rendered in the transcript as \"Accrulean\") at \"4900% over EPA regional screening levels\" and benzene at \"209 percent over EPA RSL\" for the Jan. 14 incident; those are Lovett’s claims reported in public comment.

Lovett said he called 911 on Jan. 24 at 7:21 p.m., then followed up with Washington County emergency management and was told by the county judge’s office that 911 was the appropriate channel. He said Central EMS and Tiny Town fire records indicated no one on the scene reported being sick or injured and that Tiny Town reported “no spell of gas was located” on arrival. Lovett urged the county to develop a hazardous-materials response team rather than rely on smaller municipal departments, which he said were not equipped to investigate hazardous vapors.

Why it matters: Lovett’s account raises public-health concerns for residents near the landfill and questions about local hazardous-materials response capacity and interagency coordination. The court paused the comment after Lovett’s time expired and asked staff to follow up.

Ending: The court acknowledged the comment and staff indicated they would follow up on the record; Lovett’s claims about measured concentrations and specific chemical names are assertions from public comment and were not verified in the meeting record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Quorum Court Meeting 4/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Resident Kenneth Lovett told the Quorum Court he experienced repeated exposure to chemical vapors near the Eco Vista landfill on Jan. 14, 2025, and said agency responses have been inadequate; he urged Washington County to develop hazardous-materials response capacity rather than rely on small municipal departments.","taxTitle","Washington County, Arkansas","taxId",4592,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583126,"County judge highlights new \"road forging\" process as road standard after chip-seal year",140,922000,1062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb&start=922&end=1062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb/thumbnail_922000.jpg","/articles/6583126/Washington-County/Arkansas/County-judge-highlights-new-road-forging-process-as-road-standard-after-chip-seal-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583126-30b8c4a4900738bf33c3413a08b61bac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152173&Signature=dw3OduUuwqfg5nlXzTjnIO6I5JuoTeLu9ESHE5UZelt-x55c84VDHAESdVi2eI41VgiCsw0TFKh9teJPuUxBvGwiCUSZ1Jac15vc-dXsWpRn-LUHwxqbLynyqJUo1WSXtgPRgS0oaDdsy0haViAQKGaSxNkMsBC64rL8W-RtUCEa2wK3P8gPi~YVFpRxz9yb~KpSsmp4qfQF2Wsk0zMzIRoXqtB0mH0vtLm0uAq1sf8yzzRhSAzkb5dsVAC5wFdGA~bMSJqehWogTwR2IBr6PRYKDYlJ54P3BJv8~qDiNx2phnytxV4f66rMCkmUROuoUuSvGnzBDAYLVBqliy03Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","In his report the County Judge described a new pavement process the county is piloting, which he referred to as \"road forging.\" The approach, as explained at the meeting, applies a fog-seal or oil-based product over existing chip-seal surfaces to improve durability, reduce dust and enhance aesthetics. The judge credited county road staff and vendor Ergon Asphalts and Emulsions for work on Black Oak Road and said the county completed about 200 miles of chip seal in the prior year as a necessary, cost-driven measure.

The judge said the new treatment will be striped with center and fog lines and that the county has been adding reflectors on some roads; he invited other justices to drive Black Oak Road to inspect the result. The report framed last year as a year of quantity to restore pavement life and this year as a year of quality with new treatments intended to extend the life of surfaces without moving to full asphalt, which the judge noted is roughly three times the price of chip seal.

Why it matters: The change could affect maintenance budgets, the look and performance of county roads and local residents' experience of dust and road quality.

Ending: The county judge said Black Oak Road would be striped the following day and encouraged justices to see the pilot work in person.","The county judge reported a new road-surface process—referred to as \"road forging\"—that applies an oil-based fog seal over chip-seal roads, praising the road department and vendor Ergon Asphalts and Emulsions for the work on Black Oak Road and saying the county aims to make the process its new standard.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583131,"Quorum Court amends zoning draft to remove extraterritorial jurisdiction language, clarifies appeals; sends ordinance to planning for public hearing",828,1824000,2652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb&start=1824&end=2652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb/thumbnail_1824000.jpg","/articles/6583131/Washington-County/Arkansas/Quorum-Court-amends-zoning-draft-to-remove-extraterritorial-jurisdiction-language-clarifies-appeals-sends-ordinance-to-planning-for-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583131-752ff1177fbc6a5ed34a0c59daff53df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152173&Signature=iTBr6h5h9RBDqzeSNA0dn-9V5bSTv6wBuX6abtDfptwGSRqeMv4OkkqYMZrvmZI5JRG0KMHaheFs6G1045g~2UWNYPbILmRNoAWSCyWcmbyCeKgoiJtfYV~K0yMd2pZJhOpw8lCH6yMC~CSVWbmUvAonrMHNgTggS9lm3XWygGiA~eRZGua4RKWHvvYJnpfBLS8yXV3ALsm5B1oAHR81hjcjj5d6rK2VCHlpQF9lJkmC8aZmPvnrmtaKp5T8wgOUq1Exioc5T06aO81TFJhmt21V4iEvjaHJMUv0--~xTJEXneYF-LI-pXNipSlI~RewVSUCGq5cqBDoYI9j4cttSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Quorum Court extensively discussed and amended a proposed comprehensive zoning ordinance to reflect recent state legislative changes and to clarify appeals procedures. The court approved amendments removing references to territorial/extraterritorial jurisdiction language and adjusted appeal pathways for technical/design standards to route certain appeals to the county judge rather than the quorum court.

Justice Rio Stafford explained the changes respond to Act 3 14 (House Bill 1510) passed by the Arkansas Legislature, which abolishes territorial jurisdictions for municipalities; she moved to remove all references to territorial jurisdictions from the county ordinance. The motion carried after debate. County Attorney Lester and Director Sam Atta described the edits as primarily cleanup to align the county ordinance with state law; Lester said the change was necessary so the county planning rules would not rely on authorities the legislature had abolished.

Another amendment clarified that appeals related to the design standards in Section 4 (storm drainage, culverts, sanitary sewer systems, traffic and road improvements, dedication of parkland and similar technical items) should be appealed to the county judge rather than to the quorum court, while conditional-use permit decisions and rezoning recommendations continue to come to the legislative body as required by state constitutional limits on legislative functions. County Attorney Lester emphasized that decisions to grant or deny conditional-use permits must come to the quorum court; smaller, technical design adjustments would be handled administratively by the county judge and staff.

After debate about process and timing the court voted to send the amended ordinance to the planning board for a special public hearing on May 1 and then return it to the quorum court for further consideration; an earlier plan to send it also to county services was withdrawn and the final motion sent the ordinance to planning and then back to the quorum court.

Why it matters: The changes update county land-use rules to reflect recent state law and define where land-development appeals should be heard, affecting developers, property owners and municipalities’ growth-area relationships.

Ending: The planning board public hearing is scheduled for May 1; any additional amendments made after that hearing will be required to return to the planning board before final adoption by the quorum court.","The court considered multiple amendments to the proposed county zoning ordinance: removing references to territorial/extraterritorial jurisdictions following state law changes, clarifying which appeals go to the county judge versus the quorum court, and agreed to send the revised draft to the planning board for public comment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583135,"Washington County bar, local attorney say judge’s action dissolving law library conflicts with ordinance; concern raised about $500,000 appropriation",259,553000,812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb&start=553&end=812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb/thumbnail_553000.jpg","/articles/6583135/Washington-County/Arkansas/Washington-County-bar-local-attorney-say-judges-action-dissolving-law-library-conflicts-with-ordinance-concern-raised-about-500000-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583135-2287b3cd634af073ba86b4fc33426f71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152173&Signature=itenaoe5fB-iXXzbaUL~D464Rz96hdpoiJZUoob5or6R5nX-qsC2kAjPZYNH2no7llh5-U9KcuF1RlhvoJJHQljpkpJ8F1rCtvfahdGh8mKUURL8HBWOGkN4bVev4i-KNQvXxicEdpvR5dOaWM9E9AtFbl9vcFc74iMCNQydbbU2OjJfme2S~MZB7rJKI8ilrxZo-vvyXRbDYa8cEGY-3gAo85xUQh2aziB1VwkKQ8RqMduJgJh7kI6siRHtnQFrqWr4A9dmOxlpvPbqrqve5e9URw8TlWDsOw80rSTh6PIsD0E6pBFzHXn0TGNCk0uWaHK0LhIReEl49LWMVlGE5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the citizen-comment period, attorney Tim Watson told the Quorum Court the Washington County Law Library is established by county ordinance and that recent actions by the county judge’s office to declare the board vacant and seat new members — and reportedly to dissolve the library — conflict with that ordinance.

Watson said he and the Washington County Bar received an email from Catherine Baker on March 24 stating the law-library board was vacant and that the county judge had seated board members, including himself, and acted to dissolve the library. Watson said the library held about $420,000 “that belonged to the law library by statute” and warned that a $500,000 appropriation on the court’s consent agenda could include money that belongs to the law library. He said the Washington County Bar intends to renominate five board members and expects the county judge to follow the ordinance; if the judge’s office does not, Watson said there will likely be judicial intervention.

County Judge responded in the meeting that Miss Baker would send background information on Watson’s claims and said there was “no more embarrassing way of an organization to spend money than what the law library has done over the past year,” and asked staff to provide information to the court. Watson asked the court to consider delaying appropriation of funds if they include law-library monies; the judge said he would direct staff to provide background material.

Why it matters: Watson’s remarks raise a potential legal dispute about the authority to appoint law-library board members and the status of library funds. The court discussed the appropriation of $500,000 for the EOC construction project during consent items; Justice Koger explicitly asked whether the $500,000 came from law-library funds and the judge said no. Watson said the matter could result in judicial intervention if the county’s ordinance is not followed.

Ending: The court accepted Watson’s comments for the record and the judge directed staff to provide background materials; Watson said the Washington County Bar will renominate five board members to the law-library board.","An attorney representing the Washington County Bar told the Quorum Court that the county judge’s office acted contrary to the county ordinance governing the Washington County Law Library and that the library’s funds (about $420,000) may be affected; he urged caution before the court appropriates funds on tonight’s agenda.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583141,"Quorum Court adopts consent appropriations, appoints planning board member; sends Eagle Crest repeal to planning board",454,1215000,1669000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb&start=1215&end=1669","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045245-f81ad3855ea64ed268743ef459170abb/thumbnail_1215000.jpg","/articles/6583141/Washington-County/Arkansas/Quorum-Court-adopts-consent-appropriations-appoints-planning-board-member-sends-Eagle-Crest-repeal-to-planning-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583141-1dae06e742cf91e459905723626cf75b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152173&Signature=PiCzQCE85ONQOg1n-d-dx4B4PfKkgMw1Ce6U3t8pN0c-QwTy8bZrG7Q-oik74Ul5L4FCmwe74CfJHo1yy4OYJL8Xge~bV5jhpdD2~g9~R1x8sbTa01YdUA1oQ4qmINlfo2XT5yY-aA5CmK91XaO2V8fgp9X434S130g0fGmL1t~aGcXinxMZLAO9u2bpZMug1eYBlDo27jALc9Z5m2RmIMtNKXacUXPdQGogO4~KI4NEKFNW8lQJgDJZ3gtKv3bzdeC5k2bNbBI4PfmCLFts8T95ugk3cqih8PtTp7AapA3oF7IqKtr8t82wlCOiNXccTRE9GX4~w1hqrg~jYqQKWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County Quorum Court at its April meeting approved a consent agenda that included two appropriations, confirmed one appointment to the planning board and voted to return an Eagle Crest zoning ordinance repeal to the planning board for a public hearing and later reconsideration by the court.

The consent agenda passed on a motion by Justice Lyons and a second by Justice Dean. Items read by title included an ordinance appropriating $20,000 from unappropriated reserves in the general fund to the quorum court budget for 2025 and an ordinance appropriating $500,000 from unappropriated reserves in the general fund to the emergency operations center (EOC) construction project fund budget for 2025. Justice Koger asked whether any of the $500,000 came from law-library funds; the judge replied no.

Also on the consent calendar the court confirmed the nomination of Marla Pearson to the Washington County Planning Board on a motion by Justice Secky and a second by Justice Lyons. The motion passed on a voice vote.

On a separate new-business motion, the court voted to send Ordinance 2023-26 (the earlier repeal denying a CUP for Eagle Crest Recovery) back to the planning board for a public hearing scheduled for May 1 and then to return to the quorum court for reconsideration. County Attorney Lester explained the step was taken to follow a circuit court finding that prior action had lacked a required planning-board public hearing; JP Ecki moved to send the matter back to the planning board and JP Rio Stafford seconded.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance: Appropriation of $20,000 to the quorum court budget (2025). Motion: pass consent agenda (mover: Justice Lyons; seconder: Justice Dean). Outcome: passed as part of consent agenda.
- Ordinance: Appropriation of $500,000 to the EOC construction project fund (2025). Motion: pass consent agenda (mover: Justice Lyons; seconder: Justice Dean). Outcome: passed as part of consent agenda.
- Appointment: Marla Pearson to the Washington County Planning Board. Motion: accept nomination (mover: Justice Secky; seconder: Justice Lyons). Outcome: confirmed by voice vote.
- Ordinance action: Send repeal of Ordinance 2023-26 (Eagle Crest matter) to planning board for public hearing (May 1) and return for reconsideration (mover: JP Ecki; seconder: JP Rio Stafford). Outcome: passed.

The court recorded the passed consent agenda on a roll call and then proceeded to new business; additional committee referrals on longer items (notably the comprehensive zoning ordinance) were debated separately.

Ending: The court moved on to detailed discussion of the proposed county zoning ordinance and process for public hearings and committee referrals.","At its April meeting the Washington County Quorum Court approved a consent agenda that included two appropriations, appointed Marla Pearson to the planning board and voted to send the Eagle Crest ordinance repeal back to the planning board for public hearing and reconsideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident reports repeated exposure to chemical vapors near Eco Vista landfill; asks county for hazardous-materials response capability

County judge highlights new "road forging" process as road standard after chip-seal year

Quorum Court amends zoning draft to remove extraterritorial jurisdiction language, clarifies appeals; sends ordinance to planning for public hearing

Washington County bar, local attorney say judge’s action dissolving law library conflicts with ordinance; concern raised about $500,000 appropriation

Quorum Court adopts consent appropriations, appoints planning board member; sends Eagle Crest repeal to planning board