Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker launched his Citizen’s Action Committee last week and the attendees hit the ground running with ideas ranging from new trash cans to citywide cleanup days.
Baker I want out of this whatever the citizens want out of it,” said Baker. “I just want a monthly forum that allows citizens to come and whether it is a beautification idea or something that needs to be worked on differently or enhanced, we can work on it.”
Jefferson resident Sherry Mask led off the discussions with proposing the City work with businesses to get more trash cans in downtown.
“We need to live everyday like we have company coming over,” said Mask quoting her daughter-in-law Kathy Harper. “The town should be spotless. I’m short. I have a little dog. I notice the trash on the streets way more than a 6’5” person. I walk the streets everyday. We’re lacking in garbage cans. I don’t like seeing trash. I’m like ‘why does this look like this?’”
Mask proposed a project to work on getting more trash cans painted and around town.
“We can get 55 gallon drums from Blackburns for $10. Then we can buy toppers for $45-65. So for $100 we can have some nice trashcans around town. We go one step further and sell sponsorships to local businesses. They have their logos on one side and the City logo on the other.”
Baker said local Boy Scout Troop 555 had approached the city about painting and cleaning up the existing cans as a service project, and that maybe this could work into that project.
“The city would need to take on the task of providing liners and picking up the trash each week,” said Baker. “But that’s something we can look at.”
Mask agreed to spearhead the trash can project and will get back to the group at next month’s meeting.
Shoehorning into trash cans a regular trash day cleanup was suggested. The project would be similar to how the Lion’s Club currently schedules days to walk different areas of the City and pickup trash. Paul Moore agreed to help with putting something together.
Other topics which came up included:
- • updating the City’s website – both elected officials and information on JEDCO and Tourism Boards
- • improving and/or enforcing a citywide leash law
- • developing guidelines for “sandwich boards” to make them look more professional and establish where they can and cannot be located
- • restoring tree limb pickup around town by city employees
Baker also suggested the City could partner with surrounding cities on how they accomplished various goals and capitalize on cost saving options for the projects.
The next meeting will be September 9 at the Jefferson Community Center.