With two ongoing projects recently completed, Keep El Dorado Beautiful is turning its attention to annual, quarterly cleanups and other projects.
For the third consecutive year, KEB has called on El Dorado City Council members to host community cleanups in their respective wards — with a goal of hosting one cleanup in each of the city’s four wards per year.
KEB helps to coordinate the cleanups and presents cash awards — thanks to donations from Clean Harbors — to teams who participate in the cleanups.
The cash awards are part of an effort to incentivize residents in helping keep the city litter-free.
At least 10 cleanup teams — including youth athletic teams, church groups and service organizations — must sign up and participate in each cleanup in order to receive a check for $300.
Ward 3 held its community cleanup March 30 and during a regular KEB meeting June 17, treasurer Jean Hadley reported there is still one outstanding check that has not yet been cashed from the Ward 3 cleanup.
KEB members discussed potential dates for the remaining three wards.
KEB president Janis Van Hook said council members who represent wards 1, 2, and 4 have agreed to wait until the fall and until cooler temperatures set in to schedule their cleanups.
Van Hook said the Ward 4 cleanup has already been planned for Sept. 14
KEB member Valarie Smith noted that local community cleanups that are held in the fall typically coincide with the Great American Cleanup, which is set for Sept. 7 - Oct. 30.
“We might suggest they (wards 1 and 2) do both in October or at least before Thanksgiving,” Van Hook said.
“We need to prepare for MusicFest,” said Mary McAdams, KEB secretary and former Ward 4 city council member.
MusicFest XXXII is scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28 in the Union Square District. The city’s largest festival typically draws hundreds of visitors to El Dorado each year.
Dianne Hammond, KEB member and Ward 4, Position 2 city council member, said she recently spoke to officials from Keep Arkansas Beautiful and learned that the state organization is expecting a new shipment of supplies, such as reflective vests, gloves and T-shirts, that can be used by volunteers during the cleanups.
“We need to go ahead and pin some dates down so they can go ahead and send us some supplies,” Hammond said.
Van Hook noted that KEB took the lead in organizing the 2018 cleanup for Ward 1, adding that Council Member Mike Rice participated and Council Member Billy Blann was not able to attend because he was out of town.
“They had a good turnout in Ward 1 and they did a good job,” she said.
Hammond suggested that KEB reach out to Ward 1 and 2 council members to schedule their respective cleanups.
Other projects
KEB members said a new partnership with the city and 35th Judicial District Court is under way.
The group recently became certified as an alternative/community service provider for district court.
The option is available to defendants who are convicted of misdemeanor offenses and who choose community service to pay off fines levied by the court.
Defendants earn $10 an hour — which is applied to the balance of their fines.
As of June 17, seven defendants had been assigned to the KEB program, which is managed by the city of El Dorado.
Defendants work three days per week with the Department of Public Works to pick up litter around the city.
“(Judge Jack Barker) told me there was one defendant who would rather go to jail than work to pay off fines,” Van Hook said.
She said the hours worked by defendants will be recorded as volunteer hours with Keep Arkansas Beautiful.
“We also need to spread the word to people who owe fines to let them know it’s not just for defendants who recently got out of jail,” Smith said.
Van Hook agreed, saying, “All they need to do is go to district court, to that window out front, and ask how they can go about working off fines if they can’t pay them.”
The district court office is located in the Union County Criminal Justice Facility, 250 American Road.
People who wish to inquire about the community service program may also call the court at 870-864-1950.
KEB members also said that more than 800 bags were distributed to third and fourth graders in El Dorado schools prior to the end of the 2018 - 2019 school year.
The project, which had been underway for several months, was part of an outreach effort to help educate schoolchildren about litter, recycling and beautification.
The bags, which can double as litter bags, were stuffed with educational materials, pencils, stickers, etc., to help spread KEB’s message.
Hammond said the number of bags that were delivered to West Side Christian School exceeded the number of third- and fourth-grade students at the school and the overrun was distributed to older students.
The next project KEB is looking to coordinate with local schools is a poster contest.
McAdams said KEB previously discussed centering the contest around the Great American Cleanup or Earth Day, both of which take place each spring.
In other business, Hammond said the KEB needed to focus on completing the application process for its 501c3 status.
“Even though we’re state-certified as a nonprofit, incorporated, we still need that 501c3 for other purposes,” Van Hook.
For example, the 501c3 status would help KEB in drumming up more support from local businesses and industries.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.