Amarillo officials and residents continue grappling with the fallout from the May 17 landfill fire as investigations, infrastructure projects, and public concerns dominate recent city developments. Today we have new legal troubles for a former landfill official, updates on environmental monitoring, major drainage improvements, and emotional testimony from residents who lost homes in the blaze.
Former Amarillo Landfill Superintendent Arrested
Former Amarillo Landfill Superintendent Ricky Rivera was arrested Wednesday in Randall County on a charge of Continuous Violence Against the Family. The 47-year-old was booked into the Randall County Jail shortly before 10:30 p.m.
Rivera was previously arrested Jan. 31 on a charge of Assault Causes Bodily Injury to a Family Member. He was serving as landfill superintendent when the May 17 landfill fire occurred and was the recipient of a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Notice of Violation tied to the agency’s investigation into the facility. Amarillo City Manager Grayson Path confirmed last Friday that Rivera is no longer employed by the city.
TCEQ Air Monitoring Finds No Harmful Compounds After Landfill Fire
Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said Thursday that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality conducted air monitoring at the landfill following the recent fire after residents raised concerns about possible air quality issues.
According to a city news release, the agency detected no harmful compounds in the air. Stanley said his role is to communicate citizens’ concerns to state agencies and keep the public informed about their findings. Final damage estimates and cost assessments for the blaze, later nicknamed the “Stinky Fire,” are still being compiled.
City Council Approves $14.26 Million Lawrence Lake Drainage Upgrade
The Amarillo City Council unanimously approved an amendment to a multimillion-dollar contract that will more than triple the drainage capacity of Playa 6, also known as Lawrence Lake.
The $14.26 million project will be funded through 2023 drainage bond funds and will increase Lawrence Lake’s pumping capacity from 3–4 million gallons per day to 15 million gallons daily. City of Amarillo Managing Director of Capital Projects Jerry Danforth said the work is comparable to major infrastructure projects typically seen in larger cities such as Houston. Improvements include installing a 30-inch force main from Lawrence Lake to Bell Street and constructing a deep concrete foundation wall system for underground utility structures. Construction is expected to begin within 30 to 40 days, weather permitting, and will take about a year to complete.
Residents Voice Frustration and Grief Over Landfill Fire
Tuesday’s Amarillo City Council meeting was marked by emotional public comments from residents affected by the May 17 landfill fire that destroyed 52 homes and damaged 77 more in and around the Bishop Estates area.
Several residents described conditions they witnessed before the fire began in Cell 10 of the Amarillo Landfill. Resident Frank Danner, who moved to the area six years ago, said he could have accepted the disaster if it had been caused by lightning, but instead believes the fire may have been human-assisted and accused officials of avoiding accountability. Danner criticized conflicting statements regarding landfill smoke, saying residents were initially told the plastic smoke was non-toxic because hazardous materials are prohibited, only to later hear officials acknowledge they cannot control what people throw away. He called those explanations “completely cowardly” and said his family lost everything in the fire.
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