Public Works plans clean-up

PLAINS – In an effort to clean up the town, Plains is thinking about extending a helping hand to those in need.

In a Public Works meeting on January 14, the committee discussed having a community clean-up day similar to Beautification Days in Thompson Falls.

At first the committee discussed putting a Decay Ordinance in place. The ordinance would have certain standards houses in town would need to abide by.

“People have suggested we have some kind of ordinance in town for clean up, fire hazards, that type of thing,” President of the committee Carl Reeb said.

If the ordinance was put in place, the committee stressed it would aim to remove fire hazards and would not be very strict.

Mayor Greg Eitelberg said he has had complaints about the messy properties around town.

“We do live in a community and a community has to have rules to function,” Mayor Eitelberg said. He explained that even if the Decay Ordinance did not go through, it had to be brought up.

Resident Prentiss Campbell said if the town started a Decay Ordinance, the council needed to make sure it was for the right reasons.

“If we start doing that let’s not do it just because we don’t like someone or want to have a nicer looking town,” Campbell said. Instead he said it should be an act of kindness. The town should extend out help to those who need it.

“Can we go help someone else who needs their place cleaned up instead of forcing it on them?” Campbell asked.

After Campbell’s comment the shift from the ordinance to the clean-up event began.

Reeb said the town attempted a clean-up day approximately four years ago but many of the people refused the council’s help.

Susan Schroedel spoke up and said instead the town should look at getting other organizations to take over the effort.

“Most people do not want to deal with the bureaucracy of the City of Plains, however, most people are very open with dealing with some of the Christian organizations in town,” Schroedel explained. “People respond much more positively (to that).”

Reeb agreed the event would be a great thing to have in the community. By including volunteers and people from the community, it was believed the event could see more success than in the past.

Schroedel also suggested the town make it into a festive occasion with a barbeque in the park afterwards.

Everyone in the meeting seemed to share similar beliefs that a clean-up day or weekend was the best way to get the town back into shape.

Mayor Eitelberg said he would set up a committee and anyone who wanted to volunteer was encouraged to come into this office or call.

“We’d put a committee together and talk about this. That is way better than putting a bunch of laws together,” Mayor Eitelberg said.