A labor shortage is adding to the time it takes for the city of Greenwood’s Public Works Department to remove roadside debris from streets throughout town, although the city has enough equipment to speed up the process.
The problem, says the department’s director, Susan Bailey, is that hardly anyone who is qualified for the job of driving one of the city’s four claw-type trash trucks is stepping up for the job, although it is being advertised. Many of the applicants do not have commercial driver’s licenses.
The department has four trucks and three drivers, Bailey told the Greenwood City Council Tuesday. That means that when trucks head out on workdays, one is left behind.
Also, in response to a question from Mayor Carolyn McAdams, Bailey said there’s little opportunity to work overtime because the Leflore County landfill closes at 4 p.m. McAdams said she would make a call to see if the hours can be extended.
Ward 5 Councilman Andrew Powell noted that property owners should be held accountable for keeping trash off the streets in front of their places. A city ordinance, he said, makes them responsible for picking up trash on their property and also to the middle of the street, he said.
But Bailey said Public Works routinely removes yard and household trash — everything from shrubbery branches to discarded chairs — that are piled onto the street.
Landlords often leave discards from former tenants on the road for the city to remove. “What they put out there, we pick up,” Bailey said. But frustrated council members discussed whether landlords ought to be restricted from, in the words of Ward 4’s Charles McCoy, “dumping out those houses.”
Bailey said, “They should be the ones to take all of that to the landfill.”
Council members brainstormed about methods for working with landlords about the problem. Perhaps they ought to get permits or at least have to notify Public Works of their intentions? But Bailey shook her head: “We would have to contact every landlord.”
Council President Ronnie Stevenson suggested supplementing with part-timers, such as firefighters. Over the years, they often have worked second jobs. But Fire Chief Marcus Banks said, “We are not really geared for that anymore.”
The council also addressed a dilapidated housing issue by approving the demolition of a house at 413 Ash St. Betty Stigler, community development director, said six notices had been posted or mailed to let the property owner know about the demolition if no action were taken.
The structure is termite-ridden. “The termites are holding hands,” Stigler said.
Also at the meeting, the council approved a resolution selling property it owns at 324 Main St. to Flatland Development Group for $16,500. The property, which was donated to the city by Viking Range in 2013, was advertised for bids, but Flatland was the only bidder. The lot is located on the corner of Main and Church streets and is occupied by a bright blue and white building with columns.
- Contact Susan Montgomery at 581-7241 or smontgomery@gwcommonwealth.com.
