Poplar Bluff officials expect to approve this month two new efforts this month aimed at cleaning up the city, an adopt-a-street program and a bulk trash service.
The street program received unanimous support Monday by council members, who are expected to sign off on the trash service at their Aug. 28 meeting.
City manager Mark Massingham kicked off the street program by presenting a sign to council member Ed DeGaris of Ward 2. DeGaris applied to adopt his street following the last council meeting, Massingham said, adding he has received half a dozen additional calls of interest.
The bulk trash service would allow citizens to purchase a $20 tag once a month and have items like refrigerators and couches picked up by the street department. Each ticket would be good for up to four items.
"This is kind of a pilot program. We have no idea how much stuff we're going to have to pick up," Massingham said. "We think it will be quite a bit the first few months, but then it might slow down."
Pick up would occur on the second Monday of every month and be done by the street department, he said. The city will maintain a large dumpster to dispose of the items.
This program has been identified by a new residential housing board and members of code enforcement as a potentially valuable tool to help citizens maintain their property.
"I think there's a real need for this," said Mayor Susan McVey. "I think it's another step forward in trying to clean our city up. Our goal is to get it gone and to recapture some of the expense in our street department picking it up."
The adopt-a-street program has been designed to promote volunteerism and instill pride in the city, Massingham has said. Citizens, organizations and church or civic clubs can work with the city by adopting a segment of a roadway and agreeing to keep it clean, he said.
Bulk trash service rules:
* Items can include large furniture, such as mattresses, chairs and couches, as well as stoves, refrigerators and dryers.
* A maximum of four tires, at a cost of $3 each, can be picked up.
* No construction material, household trash or trash bags. Citizens are still required to have trash service.
* Tags can be purchased from the city collector's office the week prior to pick up. No tickets will be sold the day of pick up. No exceptions will be made.
* A list of items to be picked up must be provided at the time the tag is purchased.
* Items must be placed at the curb for easy pick up and may not be placed at the curb earlier than 48 hours prior to pick up.
* The program is for residential areas only. No commercial property.
Adopt-a-street program rules are:
* Applications must be completed and signed by requesting individual or organization.
* Applies to city maintained streets, alleys and right-of-ways.
* City will provide trash bags.
* Clean up must be done at least once a quarter.
* A minimum of four blocks must be adopted, with both sides of the road maintained.
* Signs will be installed after two consecutive pick ups and will be removed after two consecutive periods of no activity.
Poplar Bluff City Hall can be reached at 573-785-7474.