CFCW’s statement and position on the $18.00 “fee” placed on the landowners of Baxter, Marion, Boone, Carol, Newton and Searcy Counties. We feel that this “fee” is unjust and that ADEQ is responsible for replenishing the monies in the same way the emergency fund is maintained.. The landholders of these six counties are not responsible for the disaster of Nabors landfill. The “bond holders” should have been settled with the collateral that was originally set if defaulted on. The fact that the Ozark Solid Waste Management Division is able to levy a fee for services is also a point of contention as ADEQ set up the Waste Management Districts in the first place and gave them their rules to operate by in addition to issuing a permit to have Nabors run by a bunch of politicians. These counties did not “vote” to purchase the landfill and in fact Baxter County voted against it when presented as a tax to purchase Nabors. Our legislatures need to draft legislation that would prevent any waste management district from adding fees to the public without a proper election or vote by the people. As it is currently set up, it is a tax being called by another name. In fact it is collected as the first payment toward paying your property tax. (you cannot pay your taxes without this $18.00 being paid first so that if you don’t pay the $18.00 you are delinquent on your property taxes. This is just not right.)
CFCW has been and continues to be vigilant in protecting our water by periodic testing of steams near the landfill which run into our lakes.