Ward 3 cleanup a success

Dozens of groups and individuals volunteer for the Ward 3 community cleanup. The event was held on May 12. Three groups — Team Elite, South Arkansas Elite and South Arkansas River Bandits — were awarded $300 cash for their participation. The next quarterly cleanup is scheduled fro June 23 in Ward 4.
Dozens of groups and individuals volunteer for the Ward 3 community cleanup. The event was held on May 12. Three groups — Team Elite, South Arkansas Elite and South Arkansas River Bandits — were awarded $300 cash for their participation. The next quarterly cleanup is scheduled fro June 23 in Ward 4.

The city’s first community cleanup of 2018 was held earlier this month, and after clearing up a misunderstanding regarding cash incentives for volunteer groups, Keep El Dorado Beautiful is looking ahead to the next quarterly cleanup of the year.

KEB, with assistance from Clean Harbors, called on the community to coordinate quarterly cleanups for each ward in 2018.

Ward 3 took the first quarter with a cleanup on May 12. The event was held in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest annual community improvement effort, which began March 20 and will end Thursday.

The cleanup was organized by Ward 3 aldermen Kensel Spivey and Willie McGhee in a partnership with Clean Harbors.

During a KEB meeting on May 21, Tony Henry, KEB member and alderman-elect for Ward 3, Position 2, reported that the cleanup “went real well” and he thanked all of the volunteers who participated, particularly local youth groups and citizens who live outside Ward 3.

KEB members also addressed questions and misunderstandings about how the cleanups are to be coordinated and cash incentives that Clean Harbors has committed for volunteer groups who participate.

Henry and Janis Van Hook, president of KEB, reiterated that the KEB is not a cleanup crew for the city.

“That’s not our job. Our job is to educate you on how to keep the city clean and educate our citizens on litter,” Henry said.

KEB carries out the mission of its parent organizations — Keep Arkansas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful — to help inspire and educate local citizens on how to improve and beautify the city.

KEB is a resource and tool to learn about recycling, beautification and keeping the city litter free.

Van Hook said KEB is willing to assist groups and individuals with cleanup efforts.

“But we don’t go out ourselves and do the cleaning,” she said.

She noted that KEB was asked to man one of several cleanup checkpoints that were set up throughout Ward 3 on May 12, noting that Spivey, McGhee and Clean Harbors organized the effort.

Added Henry, “The people who are in charge of these cleanups set the time on when the cleanups will start and when they will finish.”

He also stressed the importance of volunteer groups recording such information as the number of team members, the number of hours spent cleaning and the amount of litter that is collected and submitting the information to KEB or Keep Arkansas Beautiful.

“We send that to the state and the state keeps it on file,” Van Hook said.

KEB has explained that the records help with grant applications and other benefits from the state and national programs.

To incentivize the quarterly cleanups and to bring out more volunteers, Clean Harbors is offering $300 cash awards to volunteer teams with at least 10 members.

However, during the Ward 3 cleanup, some confusion arose about the terms of the arrangement.

KEB members sought to clarify matters, which included some teams leaving before the cleanup ended, some teams not having at least 10 volunteers and some teams dividing themselves into more than one group that received cash awards.

Clearing up questions

Henry and Van Hook noted that due to inclement weather, the Ward 3 cleanup was switched from April 14 to May 12. The new schedule conflicted with the schedules of some youth athletic teams some of whom were unable to make the May 12 and others who had to leave early.

Three youth baseball teams — Team Elite, South Arkansas Elite and South Arkansas River Bandits — received cash awards of $300 each.

Henry said two groups who could not participate on May 12 arranged cleanups on May 24 and 26, noting that he and McGhee would be on scene to track the groups’ work and participation so they could also receive cash awards.

He also said some groups that did not have 10 members “showed up and worked hard” and should also be eligible for cash incentives.

“They didn’t have to do that,” Henry said.

“It was (KEB member and Clean Harbors general manager) Dan Roblee’s request that groups have 10 or more. That’s what we set up, and we need to clarify it,” said Mary McAdams, KEB member and alderman of Ward 4, Position 1.

“We want to do what we say we’re going to do. The way to get the money was to determine the amount of people and to encourage people to get more hands on,” KEB member Valarie Smith added.

KEB ultimately agreed that Henry would discuss the matter with Roblee before the next quarterly cleanup.

Ward 4

Ward 4 will step up to the plate for the second community cleanup of the year.

Coordinated by Ward 4 aldermen McAdams and Dianne Hammond, also a member of KEB, the cleanup is set from 8 until 11 a.m. on June 23. Old City Park will serve as the checkpoint for the event.

Volunteers may meet at Old City for sign-in, briefings and to pick up supplies before fanning out into the ward to pick up litter. Lunch will follow at Old City.

Van Hook said $300 cash incentives are available for several groups, and Hammond said groups based in Ward Four will get first dibs.

“We encourage other groups to participate. If groups from other wards want to do it, fine, but Ward 4 will have the first option,” Hammond said.

Van Hook said two groups from the St. Louis neighborhood have already volunteered to participate, and Henry said he has commitments from four groups.

The deadline for groups to volunteer is June 18. To volunteer or for more information, call Van Hook at 870-814-3481, Henry at 870-866-7630, Hammond at 870-862-4503 or McAdams at 870-310-9798.

Cleanups for wards 1 and 2 will be held in the fall.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].

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