Cleanup Elmore County Initiative

Cleanup Elmore County Initiative

The Elmore County Commission is in the process of addressing issues relating to trash in our county. Reliable curbside trash service, the ability for citizens to dispose of debris not suitable for placement in curbside containers, trash being disposed of alongside county roadways, and the need to provide new recycling options for our citizens are all topics the Commission has been working for months. A comprehensive plan, the Cleanup Elmore County Initiative, to address these issues is now in the process of being implemented. Elements of the initiative include:

Replacement of Countywide Clean Up Days

For citizens to have an option to dispose of non-household garbage that is too large for their paid roll-away trash container, previous Commissions established Countywide Clean Up Days. Initially, trash trucks or roll offs were positioned across the county every other month for citizens to dispose of larger debris. With increased demand for this service, these sites evolved over time from a higher number of sites every other month to fewer sites every month.  With citizens currently experiencing long waits at these monthly sites and the continued inquiries about the ability to discard items throughout the month, a change to this program was needed.

The Commission will be establishing a centralized collection facility near the County Highway Department and City Public Works Facility on Red Eagle Dr in Wetumpka. This Center will be open seven days a week with multiple roll off dumpsters present for citizens to dispose of items larger than their paid curb side container can accommodate. This will allow greater access for citizens on a daily basis. Household garbage will not be received at this site and if disposed of, will be deemed as illegal dumping by the citizen. The opening of this centralized collection facility is slated no later than March 1st and will result in the discontinuation on the monthly Countywide Clean Up Days. Success of this collection facility could result in up to two more sites being planned in the future.

Recycling Opportunities

The Alabama Department of Corrections worked with most all local governments in Elmore County for many years to provide recycling services. The local governments would provide a site and recycling receptacle while ADOC would collect, sort and market the recyclable materials. Recently, ADOC notified all program participants they would be discontinuing their recycling program which has prompted the Commission to identify new recycling opportunities.

The centralized collection facility will have bins where residents can participate in recycling efforts. Partnering with the City of Wetumpka, recyclables will be separated in bins at the collection facility and processed based on market conditions. The Commission is also exploring other ways to return receptacles out into the county looking for partners like the City of Wetumpka who want to supplement their current programs.

Littering and Illegal Dumping

The County Commission spends over $150,000 annually removing trash and litter from county roadsides. Even though this is a truly preventable issue, many public resources are wasted in cleaning up the mess of the offenders. To help combat the issue, the Commission is making it easier to report illegal roadside littering along with preparing a campaign to remind everyone about protecting our county’s natural resources.

Citizens can now make reports of littering or roadside dumping through the Commission’s website. In this report feature, pictures of the litter, any identifying information found in the debris and location information can be submitted to help expedite investigation by law enforcement and cleanup by public works staff.

The Commission is also working with our local judges to implement a program where community services hours can be assigned for cleaning litter alongside problematic roadways in the county. This effort will complement the county’s use of prisoner labor that currently polices county right-of-ways.

Community Outreach and a Renewed Anti-Litter Campaign

The Commission plans to expand the third annual “Operation Spring Clean” event held each April along with expanding the PALS Adopt-a-Mile and Adopt-a-Stream programs. All programs where community outreach and service groups are encouraged to help take pride in our county and actively participate in keeping our county clean and beautiful.

A renewed anti-litter education campaign focused on citizens of all ages is being developed. Roll out of this campaign is scheduled for early 2020.

Improved Curb Side Service

Lastly, the Commission will continue to work with Advanced Disposal to address weekly trash collection issues. Advanced Disposal representatives have recently committed to us their company plans to add an additional pick up route which will aid in correcting missed pickup days.

Bart

Christmas/New Year’s – Change in County Government Offices Hours of Operation and Advanced Disposal Schedule

Christmas / New Year’s will  bring two changes to normal county government office operations:

In observance of Christmas, Elmore County Government Offices will be closed  Tuesday, December 24  and Wednesday, December 25,  2019 and will reopen for normal business Thursday, December 26,  2019.

In observance of New Year’s,  Elmore County Government Offices will be closed  Tuesday,  December 31,  2019 and Wednesday, January 1,  2020 and will reopen for normal business Thursday, January 2,  2020.

Below is a service alert message published by Advanced Disposal concerning the trash pick up schedule:

Happy Holidays! To give our team members time with family and friends, there will be no service on Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1. Collection will be delayed the rest of the week by one day. Our office will also be closed, but will reopen for normal business hours the next day. From our family to yours, we wish you a joyous holiday and a Happy New Year!

To view this alert, sign up for service alerts and to view your local facility’s contact information, visit Advanced Disposal Tallassee

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Bart

Tornado Watch Issued for Elmore County Until 4:00am – Safer Places Now Open

Due to the Tornado Watch being issued the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency has activated their Safer Places Program.

Please see the information below about Safer Places and how they function during severe weather events:

The purpose of the Safer Place Program in Elmore County is to facilitate the opening of pre-designated areas for citizens seeking a safer place prior to and during severe weather conditions. The Safer Place Program is not intended for long-term opening of a building for a mass care shelter. Instead the intent of the program is to provide a safer place (not safe as in a FEMA approved Safe Room), for individuals to seek shelter during severe weather (tornado, extreme cold or extreme heat). There are no meals or services provided by the host facility. Citizens are encouraged to bring anything they may need to sustain themselves (i.e. food, medicine, etc.). The safer place locations are not advertised as “tornado shelters” or “safe rooms” but as a location of last resort for those who need a safer place to stay prior to and during a severe weather event or during times of extreme cold or heat.

These are the Safer Places locations that are currently open until the Tornado Watch expires:

Shoal Creek Baptist Church.

Elmore County Courthouse – Downtown Wetumpka.

Redland Baptist Church.

Deatsville Volunteer Fire Department.

Town of Elmore – Fire Station 2 – Baltzer Road.

Town of Elmore – Penny Parkway

Town of Elmore – 1245 AL Hwy 143

First Baptist Church- Eclectic

Eclectic Police Station

Tallassee City Hall

Tallassee Police Department

Millbrook Baptist

Coosada Town Hall

New Home Baptist Church – Titus

Safer Place sites can also be found on our website at Safer Places and click on “I Understand” to go to the map page.

For additional questions you can contact the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency at (334) 567-6451.

Stay Safe!!

Bart

Reminder: Monthly Countywide cleanup day is this Saturday, 12-14-19

Trucks will be at the locations below from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or until the truck is full.

The pick-up sites are for residents to bring amounts of trash larger than the normal residential trash container will accommodate.

Limbs smaller than four feet and no more than six inches in diameter will be accepted but it is not designed to accept trash or clean-up debris from contractors.

Items such as batteries, appliances, oils and gases, paints or thinners will not be accepted.

These are the pick-up sites for this Saturday:
Coosada Post Office
Holtville High School
Elmore County Judicial Complex
CEWSA – Redland Facility
Emerald Mountain Equestrian Center
Kent – Old Highway Department

If you have any question please contact me.
Bart

Monthly Countywide cleanup day is this Saturday, 12-14-19

Trucks will be at the locations below from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or until the truck is full.

The pick-up sites are for residents to bring amounts of trash larger than the normal residential trash container will accommodate.

Limbs smaller than four feet and no more than six inches in diameter will be accepted but it is not designed to accept trash or clean-up debris from contractors.

Items such as batteries, appliances, oils and gases, paints or thinners will not be accepted.

These are the pick-up sites for this Saturday:
Coosada Post Office
Holtville High School
Elmore County Judicial Complex
CEWSA – Redland Facility
Emerald Mountain Equestrian Center
Kent – Old Highway Department

If you have any question please contact me.
Bart

12-9-19 Elmore County Commission Work Session Agenda

This is the work session agenda for the Commission meeting 12 – 9 – 19.
The Elmore County Commission meets on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Elmore County Courthouse, downtown Wetumpka.
Work Session starts at 5:00 p.m. and Commission meeting soon after, normally about 6:00 p.m.
If you want to share a thought or have a question on any item please let me know.
Thanks,
Bart