Local planning begins for May 1 Great American Cleanup

Dyer County's Keep Tennessee Beautiful Committee met Tuesday to begin planning for the 2010 Great American Cleanup. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, with a kickoff and celebration at Okeena Park. May 8 has been chosen as the rain date.

As residents in the area look forward to warmer weather, members of the Dyer County Keep Tennessee Beautiful Committee are looking forward to cleaning up the community with the 2010 Great American Cleanup.

Committee members met on Tuesday afternoon in the lower conference room of the Dyer County Courthouse to plan this spring's Great American Cleanup, which will incorporate a variety of annual cleanup events from organizations throughout the county.

"The event last year was very successful," said Dyer County Litter Coordinator Ersley McLemore. "We collected an unbelievable amount of materials. The city did some demolition about that time that we were able to count in our totals. But more important than just getting tonnage, is getting events started all over the county."

McLemore credited First United Methodist Church for its annual Mission Blitz, and noted cleanup/improvement events hosted by the Garden Club, City Beautiful and the Lakewood Homeowners Association.

"Any efforts to plant trees, plant shrubs, paint or do cleanup or improvements can be counted toward our totals," said McLemore.

In his first order of business, McLemore suggested Saturday, May 1 as the date of Dyer County's 2010 Great American Cleanup event, the same date already chosen by First United Methodist Church for its annual Mission Blitz and Lakewood for its shoreline cleanup. At the meeting, committee members discussed the fact that the cleanup will take place the day after Relay for Life on the grounds of Okeena Park.

"That might actually help," said McLemore. "We can include the cleanup at the park."

The committee agreed and the date was chosen, with a rain date set for May 8.

Both the city and county governments set aside $250 toward the event each year, but McLemore said nearly everything needed for the event is donated by the community.

"Last year, we had over $3,000 worth of donations," said McLemore. "We get to count toward that report, too."

Items that will be collected during the 2010 Great American Cleanup on May 1 will again include e-waste, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, paper and cardboard, which will all be recycled. The committee has yet to find a place to recycle plastics, but they will be accepted and taken to the landfill. Tires will also be collected at the event.

Dyersburg City Hall will provided maps of Dyersburg, Dyer County, Newbern and Trimble to allow residents to sign up for specific areas. Dyersburg and Newbern will provide curbside pickup along streets within the city limits and all fire stations in the county will again serve as collection sites.

"I think that worked well," said McLemore. "I think (Dyer County Highway Superintendent) Jeff Jones picked it up the next Monday."

Committee chairmen and dates for upcoming meetings were also chosen at the meeting. Chairmen for the 2010 GAC Committee include:

* Public Relations/Advertising-Steve Guttery

* Health and Safety-James Medling and Ricky Gatlin

* Waste Pickup and Disposal-John Damesworth and Dale Snyder

* Refreshments, Food and Beverages-Angela Smith

* Public Safety/Traffic Control-DPD Lt. Ricky Tidwell and Terry McCright

* Public Address and Entertainment-McLemore

* E-Waste Collection and Disposal-Daniel Cobb

* Rechargeable Batteries and Cell Phone Collection and Disposal-McLemore

Organizational meetings of the GAC committee between now and May 1 have been set for March 9 and April 6 and 27. Each meeting will be held at 2 p.m., in the lower conference room of the Dyer County Courthouse.

"Thank you, everyone for coming," said McLemore. "I look forward to working with you."