Residents deliver petition asking city to stop fill work at Easton's Pond, seek tests and permits

John Walker, a resident of Hillary Road, told the council he and about 30 neighbors have watched "an ongoing slow moving project" that appears to be filling what they say has become wetland at the former sedimentation lagoon near the water treatment facility on Blissline Road. "There are city of Newport dump trucks coming in there at all hours of the day and late in the evening," Walker said, and he said he and neighbors could not find any public notices, permits or testing for the material being brought to the site.

Walker asked the council to accept a petition from the group calling itself Friends of Easton's Pond and to compel the city to provide "any relevant information and or documents about the ongoing work," including permits, engineering and testing results and any contracts with third parties. The council accepted the petition and Walker said he will submit the original to the city clerk.

Neighbor Catherine McKinney expanded on Walker's concerns, saying city activity has changed the area's flora and fauna and urging transparent oversight and public forums. Councilors asked for follow-up; staff did not provide a substantive technical response during the public-comment exchange. The petition calls for work to cease until evidence is provided that activities are lawful and that testing shows the material is safe.

The council recorded the petition and acknowledged residents' concerns; no final remediation or enforcement action was announced during the meeting, and residents requested formal confirmation of testing, permits and contractor identities before work resumes.