Clean-up, clean-up, everybody do your share…
T. S. Eliot called April the cruelest month, but locally perhaps it should be known as the cleanest month, with three community clean-up projects on the calendar.
The first is the annual citywide Spring Clean-up, with extended (and free) landfill hours. All city residents are encouraged to get outside and clean up their properties now. It’s time to pick up dead branches, remove weeds, tall grass and other overgrown foliage, and clean out storage buildings of broken or useless items.
The City Landfill will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. next weekend and the last weekend of the month, April 12-13 and April 26-27. During these two weekends only, city residents (those who receive a City of Dalhart water bill) will be allowed to bring up to a total of two bobtail truckloads of discards to the landfill at no charge.
Items that cannot be accepted are batteries, appliances with Freon (refrigerators, freezers, etc.), and other items with chemicals, such as paints. Tires will be accepted with a $3.00 disposal fee per tire.
“Utilize it! Take advantage of this program, these dates, and do your part,” urged Gilbert Ramirez, Dalhart Public Works Director. “I know that a lot of people look forward to this program every year, so they can time their spring cleaning with it. People like it, we’d just like to see even more people take advantage of it.”
For more information about the Spring Clean-up, please call Manuel Cruz, Jr., Street and Sanitation Supervisor, at 806-244-5511 ext. 3221.
The April 21 tidying of Memorial Park Cemetery on April 21 is the town’s next project. This systematic and thorough pre-Memorial Day cleaning of the grounds includes removal of all decorations not permanently attached to a monument. Loved ones are asked to remove any lights, flowers, shepherd hooks, vases, statues or other items prior to April 21.
“If we have to remove an item from a grave because it’s in the way or it’s in bad shape, we tag it and store it for 30 days, and try to get it back to the owner,” explained Parks and Cemetery Director Ryan Gonzales. “We understand that these are family members and we respect that, but everyone has to respect everyone else’s property and space, as well.”
Gonzales said that the City has been doing the pre-Memorial Day cemetery clean-up for several years.
“At first, there was a lot of negative feedback, but now people have come to expect it, and they like it,” he said. “It gives the space a fresh start, a reset, and it shows at its best for the holiday.”
Gonzales also requested a brief review of the Memorial Park Cemetery rules. This is only an overview; a full copy is available at City Hall:
1) While there is no desire to interfere with the preference of individuals in regard to the style of their monuments, in fairness to the interest of the City, the management reserves the right to prevent the placing of, or removal of any structure or object which they shall deem injurious to the general good appearance of the grounds and particularly to the adjoining lots.
2) The City reserves the right to remove from any lot anything that conflicts with the rules and regulations and to remove, at its discretion, any unsightly decorations.
3) In no case will Memorial Park Cemetery be responsible for articles placed on lots.
4) No boxes, baskets, shells, or other objects will be permitted upon any lot or grave space, and if placed, will be removed at once. The owner may claim the object by calling the office of the Superintendent within thirty days. Vases containing flowers or other decorations, if on a monument base, can be left year-round at owner's discretion. No lots or parcels of ground in Memorial Park Cemetery may be defined by any kind of fencing, railing, hedge, or embankment; nor may any lot be filled above the established grade. Wire arches and trellises shall not be placed on any lot or grave. A limited number of wire chairs or wrought iron settees will be permitted in each section. Lot owners desiring to place the same must obtain the written consent of the Superintendent.
5) All monuments, markers or other memorial structures shall be constructed of granite, marble or standard bronze.
Finally, the Community Connect Trash Bash will happen April 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and volunteers are still needed. This project, which takes place every two years, is sponsored by Frank Phillips College; student Lily Drew is organizing the current event.
“Right now we have about 20 volunteers, but we’re hoping to get 30 to 35,” she said. “We just encourage everyone to come out and help with the beautification of Dalhart!”
Teams will meet at the Pavilion at Rita Blanca Lake Center to be assigned to an area. Site to be cleaned up include Rita Blanca Park, city parks, school campuses, airport and swimming pool area, among others. Teams that pre-register will receive a free t-shirt, and lunch will be provided to all participants. Sponsors for the event include United Supermarket, Western Equipment, First State Bank, XIT Communications and Wellington State Bank. To register as a participant or sponsor, please call Frank Phillips College at 806-244-7669.
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