Community cleanup set Saturday

This Saturday’s annual city-wide cleanup will start promptly at 8:00 a.m., with volunteers encouraged to pitch in and help polish the town in preparation for Fandangle visitors.

The local Chamber of Commerce, along with the City of Albany, is sponsoring the June 15 campaign.

Volunteers should gather at the Visitors Center (Depot) at 8:00 a.m. to get an assignment.

Cleanup Day

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones and members of the Chamber ask residents to help with the cleanup, which will focus on areas that are most visible to Fandangle visitors. 

The areas up and down Main Street and along Cook Field Road to the Prairie Theater are of special concern, according to Jones.

Citizens who aren’t able to work on the public areas are encouraged to clean up around their own homes, alleys, and businesses. 

Trash bags will be available at the Chamber office. Workers are asked to bring their own sunscreen, gloves, and weed eaters and to dress comfortably. 

Lunch will be sponsored by First National Bank again this year.

“First National Bank will provide vouchers for Prairie Star hamburgers and drinks for all the volunteers,” said Jones.

Residents will again be able to dump trash free of charge in a container that will be located near the scales at the Depot Chamber office. The roll-off will be on site at 7:30 a.m. and be available until full. The bulk service is arranged by the City of Albany. 

Tree Limbs

Although the city crew is currently running behind on chipping because of frequent wet weather, tree limbs and other brush can still be placed curbside for eventual disposal.

Once City Hall is notified, city employees will bring the chipper to the site as soon as possible. All of the mulch produced will be hauled away by the city unless the homeowner wishes to keep it.

The chipping machine is typically taken around town on the first Tuesday of each month, but with mowing, weed eating, and other obligations increased because of unusual spring moisture, city employees are running behind.

City manager Billy Holson asked that local residents be patient if their brush is not picked up right away, and he also emphasized that City Hall must be notified about any tree limbs that need to be chipped.

Dumpster Availability

Residential roll-off trash containers are located at the old water treatment plant near Webb Park for use during the week. Dumpsters are available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., during regular city office hours. 

“If the gate is locked, that means the dumpster is full,” said Holson. 

He added that an empty container is dropped off every Thursday.

While the use of the roll-off at the Chamber office on June 15 will be free to the public, as are the trash containers at the old water treatment plant, there are the usual restrictions on residency and the type of items that will be allowed.

Paint products, old batteries or tires, large appliances, compressors, or anything that contains freon, pesticides, other toxic chemicals, or petroleum products should not be discarded into the trash  dumpsters. 

If refrigerators or compressors have been tagged by licensed personnel, the items will be accepted.