FC cleanup campaign kicks off on March 19
Forrest City is once again participating in the Keep Arkansas Beautiful spring cleanup campaign.
City officials are asking for volunteer groups to donate time on Saturday, March 19, from 9 until 11:30 a.m., to help pick up debris and trash around the city.
"We'll have supplies available for pickup at city hall beginning at 8 a.m., that day,” said Kinyuana Smith, administrative assistant for the city and event coordinator. "We will start serving lunch at noon, and we’ll have hot dogs, chips and drinks."
Smith said T-shirts for the cleanup will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the city will also have other supplies such as gloves, bags and vests.
This year volunteers have a chance to win something a little different, too.
“The mayor is wanting to present a plaque this year, "said Smith. "The plaque will be presented to the church, organization or whoever gathers the most bags of trash. They can pre-register or sign up the morning of. We just want a lot of groups to participate."
Smith said hours spent during the city cleanup can be counted as community service hours for social groups and others.
Volunteers are essential for this cleanup due recent storms.
"We're asking that all debris be brought to the front of yards and separated appropriately for our city crews to pick up," said Smith of storm debris.
Smith said city street employees are not allowed to enter back yards of residents' homes so volunteers are essential in helping members of the community move items.
"Since we are doing this cleanup, we can put it out there if you have someone who is elderly and needs help, we might have some organizations come who are willing to help pull that debris out of yards," said Smith.
Smith has also been visiting the Forrest City School District's ABC School and has added the junior high and high school to help spread the word about the cleanup day.
"This year we are doing something a little different for them," Smith said of the junior and high schools. "We are going to do a short essay. So those who participate will get a small incentive for that."
Smith has also partnered with local businesses to provide drink and food incentives for children participating in the Keep Arkansas Beautiful art and essay contests.
Smith said large garbage bins will be placed in various areas across the city for people to drop off trash collected in each ward.
(Continued from Page 1) In Ward 1, the bin will be placed at the former Ridout building, which is now owned by the city. The Ward 2 bin will be on the Grant Street parking lot, the bin in Ward 3 will be located at the Forrest City Civic Center, and the Ward 4 bin will be located at the former Boys and Girls Club in the Forrest Hills neighborhood.
Smith said streets are also still available for adoption through the city's adopt-a-street program.
"The adopt-a-street program enables community and civic organizations, as well as private businesses and individuals, to participate in beautifying the appearance of Forrest City streets. Volunteers will adopt one-mile segments of a major street and agree to remove trash and debris a minimum of four times per year for at least a oneyear period," said Smith.
The program is open to local organizations, civic groups, churches, neighborhood associations, businesses and individuals with a willingness to accept responsibility for adopting a street for two years. Participating youth must be at least 12 years of age and have parental permission.
"Adoption is renewable, providing program requirements are met," said Smith. "Only city streets are considered and can be adopted in one-mile segments or the length of the city street. Prior to completing the application, the applicant should communicate with the adopt-a-street coordinator to determine which streets are available for adoption.
"Each person will be required to wear a safety vest and/or brightly-colored clothing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult. Following each clean-up event, the contact person must notify the adopt-astreet coordinator as to the date and location of the cleanup and if trash pickup is required," said Smith. "If quarterly cleanups are not performed, the adopt-astreet signs will be removed, and that street segment will be made available for others."
Volunteers are also encouraged to monitor conditions on their adopted streets and report any problems to the program’s coordinator. "All cleanup should only be done during daylight hours," Smith stressed.
Smith said trash collected should be properly separated and bags placed in piles at the curb before notification is sent to the coordinator to schedule a pick-up time and location.
Volunteers and groups may register for the clean-up or adopt-a-street programs by calling city hall at 870-633-1315.
An adopt-a-highway program is also available.
"They'll have to go to the website to adopt a highway," said Smith.
People may adopt a highway by visiting: https://site.idrivearkansas.com/ index.php/contact/adopt-ahighway/
Local residents are also reminded to be sure and separate their debris piles when placing them near the curbs to help keep city equipment running properly.
Leaves and limbs should be separated and placed on the edge of the property for pickup. Residents can request large item pickup and special circumstance solid waste pickup by calling public works at 870261-1418.