With a bevy of topics being tossed around during Thursday’s Carter County Proud meeting at Smoke House BBQ in Elizabethton, the wheels are in motion for a tire disposal event.
The proposal was put into motion following a discussion with Carter County Commissioner Bobbie Dietz and Carter County Landfill Manager Benny Lyons, according to Ed Jordan.
“After I met with Commissioner Bobbie Dietz and (Manager) Benny Lyons, Dietz suggested that we provide a rolloff on Saturday morning starting with voting District 1 then every other week on Saturday place a roll-off throughout all of our voting districts,” Jordan explained. “No more than eight tires would be allowed for disposal per household.”
While the plan is in motion, the CCP founder mentioned the idea has a “bit to go to make this a reality.
“The next step is for this to be voted on by the county landfill committee, then county budget and go before the full body of county commissioners,” Jordan said.
A new member of CCP, Jerry McDowell, attended Thursday’s meeting and briefed the board on a new tire recycling plant that takes tires free of charge and recycles them back without pollution.
Jordan thanked members and different entities for cranking up efforts to help combat litter in the county. The entities brought up during the meeting showing support included Carter County and Elizabethton schools, Milligan College, the public library, law enforcement and judicial members.
The organization did receive some concrete information in regards to a cleanup on the Tweetsie Trail. CCP will host a special cleanup on Earth Day, April 22, at Lions Field by the recycling center. Along with cleaning up the trail, members will display signs to help deter litter and trash issues on the trail.
Throughout the evening, CCP also heard from the IDEAS Group and the recent initiatives going on throughout the area, including the establishment of the Elizabethton Arts Alliance and the IDEAS Groups working to establish a river access across the main highway from Hampton High School.
While the plan is still in development, Jordan said the finished product could be a key asset to the community.
“This will be a big boost for tourism, but also clean up an illegal dump into something useful,” he said.
Jordan also provided an update to members about the current progress of joining Keep America Beautiful. The founder stated the group will meet with the Chamber of Commerce on April 20 to discuss the transition of Carter County Proud becoming Keep Carter County Beautiful and be a division of the Chamber.