During a brief Blytheville Health and Sanitation Committee meeting Monday night, the board discussed issues with the green garbage cans.
Interim Public Works director Mark Key said the life expectancy on some of the cans is only a few years.
He noted some residents will leave their lids open and, when rain gets in the cans during the winter, it freezes and damages the plastic material.
Key added another issue is folks putting unbagged items in the cans; the heavy items can damage the cans as well.
A city ordinance prohibits putting unbagged garbage in the cans.
Health and Sanitation Chairman Councilman L.C. Hartsfield plans to meet with Key to revisit the ordinance.
Meanwhile, the Streets and Drainage Committee also met briefly Monday night, following the Health and Sanitation meeting.
The board discussed the still-broken street sweeper. Councilman Kevin Snow said city attorney Mike Bearden has sent a letter to Memphis-based Scruggs Equipment Company. In October 2013, the city sent the street sweeper to Scruggs for repairs, and it remained at the shop for 5 1/2 months. When it returned, the machine was still not working.
Including transportation costs, the city has spent nearly $20,000 thus far on repairs. Councilman Tommy Abbottt, chairman of the Streets and Drainage Committee, said Rose Equipment Inc. in Nebraska has said it could repair the machine. Abbott agreed to contact the company.
Public Works budgeted for a new street sweeper this year.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com