Login

City Council talks cleanup

Print

‘WE LOVE GALLUP’ CAMPAIGN

Two cleanup events for the City of Gallup were topics of discussion at the March 12 Gallup City Council meeting. The two events will be identified as “We Love Gallup” as a designation of community pride.

Jennifer Lazarz, tourism and marketing manager for the city, updated the council on the Clean and Beautiful Grant and the Comcast Cares Community Clean Up Event taking place May 4.

The Clean and Beautiful Grant is a federally-sponsored grant by Keep America Beautiful. Figures provided by Lazarz for projects using the grant came out to about $15,560, with $4,300 for litter reduction, $977 in recycling initiatives, $5,747 for enhancement efforts including the Coal Avenue LED lighting, and $4,535 for youth cleanup programs.

Lazarz said during the meeting that receiving the grant will allow the city to get local youth groups involved with cleanup efforts.

“[We are] motivating our youth to do something good for our community,” she said.

The May 4 cleanup covers four focus areas, Lazarz said:

Northbound on Ninth Street from Maloney Avenue, and east of Sky City Park

The south side of Highway 66 near Church Rock Street and Hasler Valley Road

Boardman Drive to State Road 564, towards Second Street and Nizhoni Boulevard

The stretch of Highway 66 from Virgie’s Restaurant and Lounge to Allison Road

These areas were chosen because the city found them to be those most in need of beautification, Lazarz said.

In addition to the May 4 cleanup, Lazarz spoke about the 9th Annual Community Cleanup that runs from April 27 through Aug. 27. That’s when Gallup residents can place unwanted household items, debris, and trash on their curbside for pickup by the Solid Waste Department. Solid Waste will collect from different designated areas in Gallup biweekly.

Mayor Jackie McKinney said that the last major cleanup was held in 2012 with about 150 participants. He thinks this upcoming event could be a bigger draw.

“An event like this could make a major impact on the city, and allow for more regular cleanups,” he said.

Other items discussed at the regular meeting:

The project contract for storm drainage improvements on Hasler Valley Road was awarded to Gandy Dancer, of Albuquerque, for about $1,025,270 with a 4-0-0 vote. Public Works Director Stanley Henderson said the current time frame for the construction is about four months.

New appointments to the Gallup Sports Commission, including Ben Chavez, Kurt Spolar, Theodore “Bobo” Saucedo, Denise Parra, Derrick Chavez, Sheila Silva, Gloria Saucedo, Marc DePauli, Kenny Carabajal, and Vince Alonzo, were approved with a 4-0-0 vote.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

Share/Save/Bookmark