John Willoughby: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Beginning Monday, Feb. 5, the Madison County Solid Waste and Recycling Department is making plans to expand services to the citizens of Madison County, especially those that reside in the southern quadrant of the county.
The department has consistently operated with a high degree of efficiency over the last decade and has served its citizens well. However, there is always room for improvement. Because of population density and site usage, the initial collection site hours and days of operation were designed to meet the needs of the majority of the citizens to dispose of their waste and recyclables.
Historically, three collection sites in the southern part of Madison County, such as: Eridu, San Pedro and Sirmans, have been open fewer hours due to serving a smaller population. As a result, a small majority of citizens experienced some minor challenges with limited access based upon some limiting factors. Citizen’s hours of employment and the inability to dispose of their waste, due to the site operation hours, was cited as some inconveniences. At the recommendation of the Madison County Board of County Commissioners, the department was charged to present some viable options to expand the services in the southern quadrant of the county, as well as adjusting opening and closing dates for the collection site on Hwy. 150 North, also known as Live Oak Bottom.
Effective on Monday, Feb. 5, Live Oak Bottom will be closed on Tuesdays instead of Thursdays, eliminating two geographical areas being inaccessible on the same day. Other than the four collection sites mentioned, all other collection sites will continue to operate as they currently are. To insure that the citizens in the southern quadrant are the benefactors of expanded services, an additional 36 hours per week has been added to the service hours of the Eridu, San Pedro and Sirmans collection sites for citizens to have more convenience.
The additional features will involve alternate offerings of early morning operation, as well as some extended evening hours. A tentative schedule of hours and days of operation will be published in the local newspaper, updated on the county’s website and copies of the new schedules will be distributed to citizens at all 13 collection sites. As each of the three collection sites are closed on different days, the expanded services will differ in order to offer citizens the best access to services. With the addition of 36 hours per week, the Solid Waste and Recycling Department will provide in excess of 39,000 hours per year for citizens to dispose of their waste and recyclables. The Solid Waste and Recycling Department will concentrate on its 2018 goals by enhancing services to its citizens.
The Solid Waste and Recycling Department is soliciting citizens’ cooperation in policing areas and roadways where they reside which will only enhance our county’s appearance. Even with the assistance of Inmate work crews from the Madison Correctional Institute, policing some 100 or more miles of roadways in the county is, and always will be, an uphill challenge.
In the past few months, citizens and travelers in the immediate North Florida area have witnessed what is described as a tremendous amount of debris along its roadways. Madison county, noted for its efforts in cleanliness, has not been exempt from the same appearance of debris strewn along the roadways of our communities.
The unsightly appearances could very well send signals to our citizens, visitors, tourists, business prospects and other travelers that pass through, that we have no interest in promoting a clean environment. The Madison County Development Committee, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the Solid Waste Department have teamed together to create a plan to clean up Madison that will permit citizens, churches, organizations, businesses, students and anyone with a sense of pride to participate. The Chamber of Commerce is seeking assistance from anyone who is willing to help make a difference by cleaning up Madison County and the surrounding communities. Citizens are requested to be proactive in reporting anyone that illegally dumps along roadways. Violators can be fined up to $500 or jailed up to 60 days.
A community meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m., at The Madison County Chamber of Commerce, located just behind O’Neal's Country Buffet, in Madison. The meeting will provide detailed information from the plan on how to best approach such a monumental task. The planning process requires expanded coordination and precise organization to insure that the task can be completed.
The actual date for the community cleanup project has not yet been established as the desire of the planning committee is to include as many of our citizens, businesses and organizations as possible. This is an opportunity for citizens to pitch in and help restore the clean look that Madison County strives for its communities. If further information is required, please contact Phyllis Williams, Executive Director of Madison County Chamber of Commerce at (850) 973-2788. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce is located at 182 NW College Loop. If the Solid Waste and Recycling Department can be of other services, please feel free to contact the Department from 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at (850) 973-2611.