The Keep Emanuel Beautiful monthly meeting was held Tuesday, October 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Franklin Memorial Library.
Items for discussion included the following:
November 17 will be a mayor's meeting. Invitations to all the mayors of Emanuel County have been sent out, scheduling for that date so city, county, and KEB can work side by side on beautification and the daily pride of where we live. As the group put it, Keeping Emanuel Beautiful starts with everyone pulling in the same direction.
KEB is partnering with the county, city, and the businesses to bring back an operation the area once had from the early 90’s until around 2012, when it shut down because it was no longer cost effective. This time, the outlook is different. The city building under consideration should be available starting after December. A three-way meeting is being scheduled for either early or late November so everyone can inspect the site together and plan operations. What members found especially meaningful is Federal Recycling's interest in offering jobs to people with special needs, those in rehabilitation, or anyone who could use a little extra guidance in the workplace. As one member put it, they are very excited about opening a recycling center for our county.
This excitement ties directly to the money. Road cleanup in Emanuel County costs $175 per center lane mile, and that bill comes straight out of local pockets. It is not free. Every ton of material that gets recycled instead of tossed along the roadside or piled in the dump is a dollar saved for taxpayers, which is exactly why KEB sees this partnership as an investment in the whole community, not just an environmental gesture.
On the calendar, a tire amnesty event is planned for Saturday, November 21, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., pending the signing of final documents.
The Dellwood trash beautification project was moved to next month's agenda to keep the focus on getting recycling up and running.
The group also spoke by phone with Cheyenne Summers, a local artist who has been painting murals across the county for about four years. Her work appears on windows and buildings, both interior and exterior, and pricing depends on size, detail, and the surface she is painting on. Her largest piece so far measures 12 by 25 feet. She shares her work on Facebook under Blessed Brushes by Cheyenne, and members were impressed enough to want to explore future collaborations.
George Elder presented a sequence of road signs developed for heavily littered areas. The signs would appear in order: secure your load; boxes, cans, bottles, bags and sacks end up on the road; don't be a litter bug; and keep Emanuel beautiful, etc. Members responded well and are considering expanding the idea.
On outreach, members reviewed a letter sent to the high school principals proposing future awards and possible scholarships sponsored by the KEB for students who step up, volunteer, and become active in their community. We are currently waiting for response. KEB plans to schedule a meeting with faculty directly, hoping for a more personal conversation and a good outcome.
Yardmaster of Swainsboro was nominated as beautiful business of the quarter. The award was presented Tuesday, October 27.
In financial news, the KEB bank account stands at $3,945.16. The group is awaiting word from Mill Creek Foundation and Georgia Power on possible future grants. Donations are tax deductible and, as members emphasized, very welcome.
KEB meetings are open to the public and held on the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m.
at Franklin Memorial Library. There are no dues to participate, only a willingness to help keep Emanuel County cleaner, greener, attractive, and welcoming.
