County Still Trying to Hash Out a Litter Control Program

Fayette County Commissioners Court discussed several proposals for cleaning up litter around the County at their meeting last Thursday, April 14.

“I want to know if we need to take some specific action,” said County Judge Joe Weber. “With regard to a new ordinance, signs, fines, a cleanup Fayette County day once a quarter, adopt county roads – I don’t know. We’ve got some public awareness of it now. People are talking to me about it. But if we don’t do something, in two or three weeks, we’re going to forget about it.”

Weber raised the issue at a meeting in March when he asked the Commissioners to think about ways to address the problem.

“I think the public awareness was good,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Luke Sternadel. “I’ve had some applications for the adopta-road program. I’ve had a couple of people come to me who are interested. I think it opened a few people’s eyes and brought a little more awareness.”

Sternadel said he is also seeing an increase in tires that have been dumped along county roads.

“Tires are getting so expensive to dispose of, so a lot of people are throwing them out in the road ditches,” Sternadel said. “There were a few landowners who asked me if the County could start some kind of program.”

Sternadel proposed a tire recycling day. He said the County could arrange a collection site where landowners could drop off old tires for a reduced cost. The County has organized tire collection days in the past but dropped the program several years ago over escalating costs. Sternadel said reinstating the program could reduce tire dumping.

“Even if the County has to pick up part of the cost to dispose of them, it might help us in the long run,” he said.

Sternadel said the County ends up paying for disposal whenever County workers pick up tires from the ditches.

“We’re going to have to start picking up trash,” Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom. “If everyone can just chip in, that’s the best way to do it.”

Sternadel said the County could offer free bags and disposal at the Recycling Center for people who volunteer to pick up trash.

“If they’re generous enough to clean up our roadways, they shouldn’t have to pay for disposal because it came out of the County’s road ditches,” Sternadel said.

Brossmann said law enforcement needs to hold people accountable for littering.

“Whenever we dig through the trash and we find somebody’s name, they need to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Brossmann said. “That’s the only thing that’s going to stop them.”

Weber proposed a countysponsored quarterly trash pickup day.

“I like the idea,” McBroom said. “I don’t mind once a quarter or twice a year, during our working hours, dedicated to just picking up trash.”

Berckenhoff disagreed.

“I’m not going to have my guys pick up garbage in the ditch,” Berckenhoff said. “People are going to drive by saying, ‘Why aren’t y’all patching potholes instead of picking up garbage?’”

“Then who’s going to pick it up?” Sternadel asked.

“I felt that if the County was involved, it would be an example to the citizens,” Weber said. “It’s important enough to us that we’re going to take a day and focus on that once every three months. If you don’t want to do that, that’s great. That’s your decision. I don’t want to force anyone.”

“I think it shows people that we’re aware of it and we want to do something about it,” McBroom said. “If we don’t do anything about it, will it get better?”

Commissioners took no action on the proposal.

They discussed officially proclaiming a county-sponsored quarterly trash pickup day at a future date.