Council hears litter report ahead of weekend blitz

Council hears litter report ahead of weekend blitz

Citywide cleanup effort this Saturday

news@theeveningtimes.com

As the civic volunteer effort to “Keep West Memphis Beautiful” ramps up tomorrow morning, City Councilwoman Lorraine Robinson reported the organizing efforts to the Public Works Commission this week. The call has gone out to muster volunteers and the baseline for measuring the improvements has been set.

A survey of city litter has been taken and noticeable improvement over previous years was documented.

Robinson reported the results to commissioners on Tuesday.

“We’ve completed our litter index survey of the city on April 27,” said Robinson. “When we first went out in 2013, the litter was really bad in the neighborhoods. We do the same trail each year. This year we didn’t have near the litter as in the past.”

Commissioners heard that many people and groups were volunteering despite the holiday weekend.

While last year’s local work project was award winning and recognized by Keep Arkansas Beautiful this year’s effort looked bigger and better.

“This Saturday, we clean the city,” said Robinson.

“It’s Mother’s Day weekend, but assignments should be complete by lunchtime,” said Robinson.

“I have been getting lots of calls from interested groups and individual volunteers.

It should be a big day.”

Volunteers may show up Saturday May 7, at 8 a.m.

and sent to beautification assignments by 8:30 from City Hall. Some bring tools but gloves but assorted hand tools are available.

Picking up litter, mowing and weed eating, and planting flowers and new shrubs make up the tasks. Back at City Hall, a lunchtime cookout by Councilman Willis Mondy caps the morning.

Robinson noted this one day focus is part of an everyday solution for city residents and quoted a phrase coined by the late Arkansas native Eldridge Cleaver.

“Everybody wants a clean and safe neighborhood,” said Robinson. “This is something people need to do all year. I am organizing things in my neighborhood and we need to have this ongoing in neighborhoods across the city. You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.”

By John Rech