VB cleanup effort makes strides

by KENNETH FRY, Press Argus-Courier Editor
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:07 AM CST

Efforts by Keep Van Buren Beautiful are beginning to pay big dividends, according to the organization's director.

John Pope has announced the annual survey to determine the amount of litter along city streets has improved for the third straight year.

"In the three years that KVBB has been an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, we have been awarded the President's Golden Circle award for outstanding achievement," Pope said. "One of the requirements for this award is to perform an annual litter index survey."

For KVBB, that means dividing the city into more than 20 areas, driving the areas and awarding a number from one to four for each area; one being the best.

"Doing the survey takes several hours, Pope said. "The area is the same every year so that way we can chart improvements. The first year of the survey, the results were 2.60."

Last year, the index dropped to 2.35. This year's survey found Van Buren's litter index went down to 1.70.

"This is great news and reflects the efforts of the entire community," Pope said. "It's so much more than just a series of numbers, however; it is obvious when you drive around the city and look at the difference that a renewed sense of pride has produced."

Robert Phelps, executive director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, congratulated KVBB "on the outstanding achievements that Keep Van Buren Beautiful continues to accomplish."

"Please extend my appreciation to everyone involved for your organization's diligence and performance in helping to make Van Buren's community environment healthy, safe, clean and beautiful," Phelps said. "It is said that virtue is its own reward. Likewise, the visual aspects of a community improvement program can certainly increase civic pride and individual satisfaction, but they also present citizens, visitors and investors important value, contribute to greater community quality of life and offer attendant economic and environmental benefits."

Pope cited a number of reasons for the improvement, including the cigarette litter prevention program on Main Street, spring and fall cleanups, the city's recently purchased street sweeper, the community service worker program and the pocket ashtray program.

"There also are countless volunteers who do cleanups when they walk their neighborhood," Pope said. "And, there are recycling and education programs going on at many of our schools."

Pope lauded the efforts of Ernie Schimmelman who heads up the litter index survey effort for KVBB. This year's team was Ernie and Joan Schimmelman, Jo Blondin and Pope.

Reader Comments

Submit a Comment