The Blytheville City Council continued the discussion on the issue of illegal dumping around the city Monday in their monthly Code Enforcement Committee meeting.
Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson also noted that 238 code enforcement violation notices were sent out in the month of September. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders spoke about the different things being dumped around town.
“On Kentucky Street, there was a whole load of furniture. A couch, loveseat chair, ornament, you name it. Right there beside the road,” Sanders said.
Sanders also said in some instances both SkyCop cameras, as well as other forms of photography, have captured some vehicles illegally dumping trash at various locations around the city. To further combat this issue, Sanders is looking to publicize the information in numerous ways.
“We are trying a new and aggressive approach by putting this on our website, Sanders said. “We’ve even tried to reach Region 8 with it. It’s a process to come up with the right ingredient to let our public understand that people dumping [illegally] is creating another cost on us. We see what we are dealing with, we are just trying to put the right pieces together so we can attack this properly. And we’re going to need the citizens help in order to do it.”
Public Works director Mark Key said nine days were spent on cleaning about seven lots around Beale and Boone Street.
The council also discussed the “Welcome to Blytheville” mural, which was delayed due to COVID-19. The mural will be sponsored 100 percent by Nucor and developed by Hinson Signs.
Director of Parks and Recreation Cody Slay said the mural will be located at the pocket park on Main Street and will be completed before the end of the year.
“It represents so many amazing things about our community,” Slay said. “There will also be a sign below it that gives credit to our artist, Grayson Seibert from Armorel. He’s just a senior this year and is very talented.”