TURRELL, AR - Troubles in Turrell are worse than ever. The small town hasn't had city services for nearly a month. That means no trash pickup, no water treatment, nothing! It turns out the mayor and city council have been feuding for years over money.
The burning issue at Turrell City Hall has forced several residents to burn their trash. It has been almost a month since the town picked it up. And if there is a burn law, there's no one to enforce it. The small town is experiencing big financial problems. A budget has yet to pass this year, and as a result, trash is piling up, or burning. The drinking water isn't being treated and laws aren't being enforced.
Tommie Weathers moved to Turrell from Detroit, Michigan because of health reasons and to be close to family. "The mosquitoes carry diseases and all this trash, it's terrible. I really would like to see a change. If not, I'm going back to Detroit."
What frustrates residents the most is that many of them haven't heard any explanation from Mayor Franklin Lockhart. MyEyewitnessNews.com tracked down Mayor Lockhart who says he isn't to blame, it's his city council. "All I can do is request a budget and after I request a budget, and they don't pass it, it ain't in my hands. It's just common sense, and I wish somebody would come to their senses." For Turrell Resident Mary McCoy, the actions of the mayor and city council are just senseless. McCoy just wants to service restored. "That would mean alot if they do their job. We shouldn't have to do their job."
The town of Turrell has been no stranger to financial difficulties. Sources tell myEyewitnessNews.com finances are so bad, at one point the general fund account was overdrawn more than $4,000. The city owes the IRS more than $200,000. According to city records, aldermen say more than $7,000 of checks have bounced in the last two years. In December 2007, Mayor Lockhart was accused of writing himself and city employees $1,000 in bonus checks and using city money for personal purchases.
