Greenwood will be offering free leaf bags to homeowners beginning Nov. 1.
Thirty bags will be given to each household, said Benny Herring, director of Greenwood’s Public Works Department.
Herring gave the City Council an update on the leaf-bagging plan Tuesday.
Residents will be required to show proof of residency to receive bags. Each resident will be recorded in a log book.
Bags may be picked up at the Public Works Department on Henry Street. They will be available from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“We’re going to be giving bags away for at least three months,” Herring said.
He said he is in discussions with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality about setting up a compost location within the city.
A compost location would serve two purposes: It would reduce landfill costs, and it would enable residents to pick up compost material for their gardens and flower beds at no cost.
Herring said a similar location was established after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.
Regarding the one-year-old leaf bagging ordinance, he reported to the council that “our city is cleaner.” Herring said between 75 to 85 percent of storm drain problems have been solved because of the ordinance.
In other action, the council approved:
• The Greenwood Police Department applying for a grant from the state Office of Homeland Security. Police Chief Henry Purnell said the grant could cover four possible purchases contemplated by the department including seven new patrol cars, 25 new “narrow band” radios, 30 new “narrow band” portable radios or 20 new computers.
• A donation of $13,500 to Main Street Greenwood Inc. The donation will be combined with $10,500 from the Leflore County Board of Supervisors.
• Naming the new Greenwood-Leflore Airport Air Traffic Control Tower as the Granville Jordan Memorial Tower in honor of the late Granville Jordan, a longtime member of the Greenwood-Leflore Airport Board.
Mayor Carolyn McAdams reported the city’s sales tax receipts for September were $338,719, an increase of $32,844 over September of 2010.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
