Help Keep West Memphis Beautiful
Community- wide cleanup event set for this Saturday
news@theeveningtimes.com Keep West Memphis Beautiful returns to the city with a new one-two punch combination on its ninth annual event. Groups and individual volunteers were scheduled to rally for litter clean-up assignments, supplies and T-shirts at city hall on Saturday morning, May 15 beginning at 8 a.m. The new effort this year came with another round of community dumpsters across the city courtesy of county government.
Public Works Chairman Wayne Croom urged citizens to take pride in their communities and announced the dates and places for city residents to drop of trash and yard debris. Tires and paint were not allowed in the bins.
'Dumpsters will be set in each ward from Thursday, May 13th through Wednesday the 19th said Croom. 'I've already heard from community organizations in two wards ready and eager to help with the clean-up.'
The councilman listed the locations for city residents to drop off trash as Mathews Park for Ward 1, behind the civic center in Ward 2, West Memphis Christian School for ward 3, Bettis at Thompson in Ward 4, and 17th and Jackson for Ward 5.
Mayor Marco McClendon reported the city attempt at keeping West Memphis beautiful as public works crews scoped up 600 tires last month.
'I didn't know tires had seeds in them,' said McClendon. 'but as soon as we pick them up more tires sprout up in the same spots, even more than before.'
The mayor planned on taking a bigger bite out of tire dumpers by upgrading fines.
'That's why I have been working with the city attorney and the city clerk about Municipal league recommendations,' said McClendon. 'We will get more tougher on city ordinances.'
Overall the mayor urged public participation to keep West Memphis Beautiful year round. The sanitation department dedicated personnel to policing litter along busy streets and avenues in the city.
'Quite honestly our sanitation crews are doing everything they can to keep the city cleaned up,' said McClendon. 'Our citizens have to help us even if its to clean your own yard, cut a yard, pick up everything in your yard. We can't do it all ourselves. Bag you garbage before you put it in the can. All these things help beautify the city.'
The city also recently moved it recycle trailer to the parking area behind the old district courthouse in the Old O.I. Bollinger Building on Court Street off Broadway.
For details call Councilman Wayne Croom at 870-6361827 or Councilwoman Lorraine Mohammed at 901-634-4165.
