Blytheville Code Enforcement condemnation/demolition coordinator Janice Smith clarified a report in Saturday’s edition of the NEA Town Courier on her presentation to the Rotary Club of Blytheville, saying Public Works does not have a program to clean alleyways.
During Thursday’s Rotary Club meeting, Smith said, “What Public Works usually would do, if someone would call us and let us know what the issue is, they’ll look at it and they’ll go through and clean the alley one good time for the owners. The owners are really responsible for their own alleys. But they’ll go through one good time if it’s really overgrown and clean it out one good time for you all. If you just call with the address or location, we’ll go look at it and I’ll get with the Public Works director.”
Smith clarified that Public Works doesn’t have a program, and there are some alleys that crews physically cannot clear.
Smith credited Blytheville Mayor James Sanders with the city’s progress on code enforcement issues.
Since August 2019, the city of Blytheville has torn down 110 blighted houses, and homeowners have removed another 21.
“This is something that the Mayor began; he hand-picked this team, and we wouldn’t be doing what we are doing if it had not been for great leadership,” Smith said of removing blight in neighborhoods.