Group Makes Effort to Cleanup Town

RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS The Clean Community Action Team of Noel met Saturday morning at Noel City Hall to form into teams to distribute copies of city ordinances regarding nuisances such as trash and high weeds. The four two-person teams went door-to-door to get the word out.
RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS The Clean Community Action Team of Noel met Saturday morning at Noel City Hall to form into teams to distribute copies of city ordinances regarding nuisances such as trash and high weeds. The four two-person teams went door-to-door to get the word out.

A group of eight community-minded Noel residents braved the August heat early Saturday morning to pass out a copy of city ordinances regarding health nuisances (stagnant water, vehicles used for rubbish disposal and allowed animals and those not allowed), weeds and high grass and inoperable or unlicensed cars.

The ordinances were prefaced with a short introduction:

"We as a team of concerned residents of Noel and surrounding area are coordinating our time and efforts with the city of Noel. We invite you to join us by participating in our goal to create a cleaner and safer community."

According to Faye Davis, who helped organize the Clean Community Action Team, the first priority would be trash and high weeds.

"We are concentrating on trash and high weeds today," Davis said of Saturday's efforts. "We want to make sure everyone is aware of the city ordinances."

The eight people who were present Saturday were divided into four two-man teams who spread out over the city to go door-to-door to pass out as many copies of the ordinances as possible.

"We will take a copy to each house," Davis said.

Davis said that the teams will make a note of any suspected violations they happen to come across.

"We will make a list and give it to the nuisance abatement officer (Rusty DeMoss)," Davis said. "We are helping him which is all we can do. We will report to him what needs to be done."

Davis said the goal is not for DeMoss to have to give out tickets, but to clean up the town.

"If we find someone, like the elderly, who isn't able to clean up their property, we can help them," Davis said. "We have groups -- churches, the Boy Scouts -- that are willing to help out."

Davis said it is time for the community to get involved to clean up the city.

"I got tired of the city looking so bad," Davis said. "I started to look for a group of people who wanted to clean up the city and make it beautiful like it used to be."

Saturday was the group's first venture onto the city streets after an organizational meeting the previous Saturday.

"We will get out copies of the ordinances every Saturday until we start picking projects," Davis said.

General News on 08/28/2014