|
Clean-up of 2 Dumping Sites Begins April 14
HIGHLAND PARK, Mich., An all-out
community effort to stop illegal dumping in Highland Park and to
clean up two of the worst areas of dumping that the city has ever
seen began today with the help of a coalition of government,
business, churches, and community organizations.
Heavy equipment will remove thousands of tons
of construction material, scrap tires, and household waste that have
been dumped in two areas bounded by the Davison service drive
between Thompson and Hamilton, north and south of the Davison
freeway. Cleaning these two areas is expected to take about two
weeks and will be followed by a community-wide effort to report and
prosecute those who dump trash in the community as well as to clean
up other areas in the city.
The Illegal Dumping Task Force, convened by
Focus: HOPE, has been working for months to pull together the
resources needed to take on this huge effort. "Apparently, some
people believe that because Highland Park is in a state of
emergency, they can dump their trash here illegally and get away
with it," said Emergency Financial Manager Ramona Pearson. "With the
help of this coalition, we are establishing zero tolerance for
dumping. We have put steps in place to stop dumping and prosecute
persons caught dumping in our community."
Focus: HOPE, a human and civil rights
organization, was outraged at the blatant dumping that is
devastating the community adjacent to its campus. "We are addressing
neighborhood quality of life initiatives as an extension of our
civil and human rights mission," said Eleanor Josaitis, CEO and
co-founder of Focus: HOPE. "The dumping situation in Highland Park
is unconscionable. We're grateful to all our partners who are
working together on this clean-up effort. It truly is a community
effort."
The task force has met over the course of
several months to identify the resources to clean up the areas of
illegal dumping and to develop a strategy to prevent the problem
from recurring. Community resources are being mobilized to ensure
that there will be zero tolerance for dumping in this area in the
future. Enforcement strategies have been mapped out, and future
dumpers will experience the full force of the law should they dare
to dump in this area again.
In addition, people in the community of
Highland Park are banding together to report violators and to clean
up other areas of the city. Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church
is spearheading efforts to involve the community in the clean-up
effort.
Members of the Illegal Dumping Task Force and
their roles in the clean up are:
Focus: HOPE in Detroit, facilitating the
task force
City of Highland Park, providing equipment
and manpower, modifying its ordinance to facilitate prosecution of
illegal dumpers, and providing public safety response to reports of
illegal dumping
Highland Park Weed and Seed, coordinating
the clean up, submitting the grant proposal that generated a portion
of funding for the project, and mobilizing the community
City of Detroit Police Department, providing
photos of the site
Michigan State Police, assisting in law
enforcement efforts
New Center Hauling in Detroit, providing
hauling services as part of a Supplemental Environmental Project
with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church,
coordinating community involvement
State of Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality, monitoring the clean-up and hauling,
arranging for tire disposal, coordinating aerial photos of the site
Texas Encore Materials of Romulus, disposing
of scrap tires which will be processed into asphalt, astro turf, and
auto parts
Wayne County Executive's Office and
Department of Environment, providing on-site supervision, logistical
planning and signage and arranging for landfill space and temporary
barriers.
Wayne County Prosecutors Office, providing
$5,000 grant and drafting Highland Park ordinance revisions
Wayne County Roads, providing temporary
barriers to facilitate the clean up
Wayne County Sheriff's Office, providing
cleanup manpower in the form of supervised low-risk jail inmates
Starting immediately, the Highland Park
community will be vigilant in catching and prosecuting those who
illegally dump trash in the city. Residents have been advised to get
descriptions of individuals and vehicles seen dumping trash and to
call 313-252-5000 to report findings. Interim Highland Park City
Administrator Jan Lazar is optimistic that community involvement
will discourage such flagrant violations. She praised the
neighborhood, public and private partnerships that will improve the
community.
"It's going to take the whole community
working together to revitalize the neighborhoods," added Josaitis.
To learn more about Focus: HOPE, visit
www.focushope.edu.
|
