There were both complaints and praise during Monday’s city council meeting surrounding the recent campaign to eliminate loose leaves within Yazoo City.
Russ Carter, the city’s building inspector, said the street department has been assisting him with issuing warning citations for loose leaves that are not properly bagged. Mayor Diane Delaware said Carter thought “outside the box” when he suggested enforcing the city ordinance several weeks ago in an effort to eliminate loose leaves clogging up the storm drains.
“The street department issued out some warning tickets about (loose leaves),” Carter said, during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting. “I would like to commend them for what they have done. What they did in about three weeks would have taken me months and months to have accomplished.”
But one Yazoo City resident said while the street department is issuing citations for loose leaves, they are not picking up garbage.
James Sherman said he was representing the Sunset Drive area when he appeared before the city council Monday.
“The city drivers are not picking up anything,” Sherman said. “They are picking up nothing, but they want to come to my house and put up a ticket. It is more than leaves in our neighborhood. But they will pass right by it.”
Sherman said he has reported the issue, but he really doesn’t know what else to do.
“We will handle it,” Delaware replied.
Carter later told the city council that no actual citations have been issued.
“Just warnings,” he stressed.
Carter said he was pleased with the progress of the work crews.
Carter added that city work crews have “hounded” him for more warning tickets.
“They know it has worked,” Carter said. “It has helped them tremendously.”
Carter said citizens are also adhering to the ordinance better.
“I counted 137 bags last Friday going down Grand Avenue,” Carter said. “And that was just in a short distance. My hat goes off to the citizens too because of what they have done. They are spreading the word. It has been tremendous help to the street department.”
