EARLE, Ark. - The mayor of the small Arkansas city of Earle said Wednesday that essential services like fire and garbage trucks could be "at risk" due to unpaid bills.

In a statement, Earle Mayor Jaylen Smith said that City Council has tabled all bills for the past two months. "Once the current supply of diesel and gasoline in city vehicles — including fire trucks, garbage trucks and boom trucks — is exhausted," he wrote, "operations will come to a halt."

Smith added in his statement that because of the unpaid bills, "Local businesses will not extend services without payment. Effective immediately, no city personnel are permitted to obtain fuel for municipal vehicles until this matter is resolved."

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