Kennett City council presses owner of Emerson property to remove dumpsters, calls it potential illegal transfer station

An unnamed council member at a Kennett City meeting on an unspecified date urged immediate enforcement action after describing the privately owned Emerson property as being used like an illegal transfer station.

"I would like to see call enforcement contact them immediately and and tell them to if they don't do something, we're gonna be fine because They they have been contacted," the speaker said, adding that the city had raised the issue two to three months earlier and had not seen sufficient cleanup.

The council member said the site has dumpsters with trash and debris, a torn fence and an overall appearance that "looks awful" and that the situation may violate state regulations. "If they're actually keeping garbage or trash rubbish in the dumpsters, it's considered a transfer station," another speaker added, citing state oversight.

Council members discussed next steps: one asked Wes to "check on that," and staff said they had already contacted the Arkansas Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "I know Bridal and Bicker both have been working on it ... I know DNR has already been contacted," a speaker said.

The council requested that the matter be placed on the next meeting's old-business agenda for an update. The complaining council member said the owner should be given 30 days to clean the site or face fines.

No formal enforcement action or fines were recorded in the meeting transcript. The exchange closed with another council member noting the Emerson property still "looks skanky" and urging colleagues to raise these issues before meetings so staff can gather answers.