Work to revamp trash pickup pays off

West Memphis getting cleaned up, say city leaders

By John Rech

news@theeveningtimes. com Last Tuesday, West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon and City Engineer Amanda Hicks thanked sanitation workers for getting the city much cleaner.

Hicks noted the improved results came with a cut in overtime hours in 2019 compared to 2018. Public Works commissioners heard the latest on the fight last month against unsightly garbage with an emphasis on unscreened commercial Dumpster bins.

Commercial Sanitation Supervisor Robbie Amos reported the first month efforts to corral Dumpsters.

“I’m in the process of finding designated places for all Dumpsters sitting out in the open,” said Amos. “I’ve check procedures with other cities, Forrest City, Jonesboro, and Little Rock to see how they keep up Dumpsters. I’ve been sending customer letters. The day they receive letters they have ten days to comply. “

Amos noted some commercial lots were a tight fit for trucks to maneuver. Overhead wires were also a safety concern for drivers.

Councilman Tracy Catt asked for specifications for the concrete Dumpster pad. Hicks said specifications were on file in her office.

The city engineer pointed to the reason for the current problem.

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The Dumpster pads came after a lot of our agreements.

“We want to see some plans and effort to conform to the requirements,” said Hicks. “We are giving time so we don’t lose their business. But we need to let customers know the bin cant be in the right of way.”

Sanitation crews patrol the streets for tire dumps.

“We been picking up from the side of the streets,” said Amos. “Every time a tire gets dropped we pick it up.

At 21st and Tyler was a dumpsite with wood and 20 tires. We go through the jungle and pick up a lot of stuff.”

Councilman Tracy Catt asked what a citizen was to do with an old tire.

Amos directed him to the collection trailer at the county shop on highway 64 across from the cemetery.

‘We’re not in the business of picking up tires, but unfortunately its fallen to our department,” said Hicks. “We are doing what we can.” Hicks noted improved results came on regulator time instead of time and one half.

“I’d like to thank both my supervisors; our overtime was down significantly this past year, about 75 percent,” said Hicks. “They have done everything I asked of them. It’s hard getting used to a new position and also getting used to all the changes we are bringing to the department. “

The mayor heaped on praise as well.

“I want to piggyback off what has been said,” said McClendon. “We have accomplished in this first year a lot of things that have been talked about over the years. I want to commend them and ask that they keep making the city cleaner.”