Mayor Sanders: Whirlpool issue like a ‘divorce’

Even though Mayor Sandy Sanders spent more than 30 years working for Whirlpool, he says citizens of Fort Smith should know that he knew nothing about contamination at the manufacturing facility and the neighboring residential area until Feb. 12, 2013.

That was the day individuals representing Whirlpool appeared before a Fort Smith Board of Directors study session asking for a groundwater well ban, which was defeated at the March 27 Board meeting.

Sanders said his time at the manufacturing facility was spent in human resources and employee relations.

"Primarily, (in the) earlier years, (I was) doing plant newsletters, things like that, employee activities – bowling leagues, golf leagues, employee picnics, those kind of things. The last few years, I was manager of all salaried personnel, that was sourcing engineers, all salaried job openings, performance evaluations, things like that," Sanders said.

Due to his position, Sanders said he was not made aware of any contamination issues at the facility.

He said he retired in 1998, three years before the city of Fort Smith was notified by letter of possible trichloroethylene (TCE) in the neighborhood around the site.

The letter, which Sanders provided to The City Wire, from senior environmental engineer Scott Horton to then-Mayor Ray Baker said "small traces" of TCE had been found north of the facility.

"All tests conducted prior to December 2000 confirmed the substance has been confined within Whirlpool property, however results of the December tests showed small traces of TCE on the north side of its property which is driving further testing in this area," Horton said. "Environmental experts monitoring the wells believe the substance is confined within our property, however, as an added precaution, the company will test the groundwater on its property, north of Ingersoll Road to rule out that the substance has moved beyond our property."

Even with the letter dated Feb. 15, 2001, Sanders was insistent he was never made aware of the TCE contamination upon taking office until the Feb. 12, 2013, Board meeting.

"(I found out) just like everybody else, whenever they first came to the Board wanting the water well (ban) passed," he said.

Sanders said he had very limited interaction with Whirlpool officials, only involving discussions with potential buyers of the now-vacant plant, which took place prior to the request for a groundwater well ban.

"I have had (contact with Whirlpool) on the fact that we've been trying to market the building. They had this first potential buyer, some of us went out and met with that buyer at Whirlpool. There were Whirlpool people there. I can't remember who they are. I didn't know them. I haven't had any contact on this issue, but trying to work with them to help find a buyer for the property. So I haven't had contact with them on this standpoint."

At a March 26 town hall event with environmental activist Erin Brockovich, Sanders did not show a visible reaction after some in the crowd made angry references to his former position with the company.

While he did not show a reaction at that time, he said he is frustrated with what has happened to the city he leads and the workers he spent more than 30 years with, all at the hands of Whirlpool.

"I'm mad at Whirlpool, primarily about the move, now they've left us with this kind of problem. I liken it to a divorce. For many years people were happy. People had pickup trucks in the parking lot. Things were going well and now we were left for somebody else and they left us with a house that's now got big problems. Left the kids with no income, no income stream for people. So to me, it's kind of like a divorce."

Sanders later said no one should question where his loyalties lie when it comes to the fight between the city he leads and the company where he spent nearly half his life.

"I just want to emphasize I work for the city of Fort Smith – 86,209 people."