Posted on
March 18, 2008
The Washtenaw County Road Commission will begin the third year of roadside clean-up efforts with its “Adopt-A-County Road Program” (AACR), beginning the weekend of April 19-20, 2008, which will coincide with the 39th Annual Earth Day on April 22. (This year, Earth Week is designated April 20-26, 2008.) The AACR Program began two years ago after the Washtenaw County Board of Road Commissioners approved its implementation.
As the past two years, the AACR Program is modeled after the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway Program. The AACR Program is a litter-reduction campaign designed to clean up debris from county roadsides in an effort to improve and preserve the environmental quality of road rights-of-way. The program also provides an opportunity for individuals and groups to become involved in a positive community activity. The purpose of the program is to establish a partnership between volunteer groups and the Washtenaw County Road Commission by working together to control the accumulation of litter along county roadways.
Thus far, six groups have notified the Road Commission Permits staff that they plan to participate again in the AACR Program. The groups are:
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The West Washtenaw Business Association (the very first group to join AACR in 2006). This group adopted a two-mile stretch of the Jackson Road boulevard, between Wagner Road and Jackson Industrial in Scio Township.
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Midwestern Consulting, LLC, (also joined AACR in 2006), adopted two miles of Ellsworth Road, between State Road and Maple Road in Pittsfield Township.
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All Media Guide adopted Lohr Road, between Ellsworth and Ann Arbor-Saline Roads in Pittsfield Township.
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Estella Laster adopted a segment of Grove Road, between Rawsonville Road and Harris Road in Ypsilanti Township. Laster and members of her church group clean up the Grove Road area “In Loving Memory of Keilani D. Burrell” (Laster’s daughter).
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Great Lakes Spirit Seekers adopted a portion of Dexter-Ann Arbor Road, between Zeeb and Dan Hoey Roads in Scio Township.
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St. Joseph Knights of Columbus Council 8113 adopted Whittaker Road, between Willis Road and Talladay Road in Augusta Township.
“We are very appreciative that these conscientious citizens have volunteered their time and hard work again this year to help keep our Washtenaw County roadsides looking beautiful,” said Steve Puuri, Road Commission Managing Director
“We look forward to renewing other past participants, as well as accepting new applications, so we encourage other groups who are interested in adopting their favorite county road to contact our Permits staff as soon as possible. They will be happy to sign you up in time for the first clean-up weekend,” said Matt MacDonell, Supervisor of the Permits and Subdivision Section.
The AACR Trash Pick-up Schedule in Washtenaw County is on the following three (3) weekends:
April 19-20, 2008
July 12-13, 2008
September 13-14, 2008
The county clean-up program is open to all individuals, service organizations, businesses, families, friends, and others who want to contribute to their neighborhood beautification as well as enhance their organization or company image through community involvement and stewardship.
“We are pleased to be able to continue this program in 2008, and would again like to thank those groups that participated in past years. They should be recognized and commended for their conscientious citizenship! They see the benefits of this program in their communities; and its success can be measured by the miles of roadways they cleaned of unsightly litter and debris. Clearing away roadside trash is a great safety benefit for our maintenance crews too, who could be severely injured by debris as they mow or perform other work in the road rights-of-ways this time of year,” said Puuri.
Of course, as with their road crews – the Road Commission’s primary concern is for the safety of the Adopt-A-County Road volunteers. That is why every volunteer is required to view a safety training video, and each group’s coordinator is required to hold a safety meeting at least once annually prior to the first pickup day. All participants are required to wear safety vests and gloves, which are provided by the Road Commission, and advance warning signs are provided to the group coordinator prior to the first pick up date.
“We would also like to warn motorists to be aware of these Adopt-A-County Road volunteers as they are out working in the road rights-of-way. To further ensure their safety, we ask that drivers slow down and use extra caution whenever you see these fluorescent-vested groups out conducting a weekend clean-up. It is the best way the motoring public can show their appreciation to these dedicated citizens who are donating their time and hard work to keep our roadways beautiful,” concluded Puuri.
Contacts
For more information on the Washtenaw County Adopt-A-County Road Program, contact the Permits Engineering Office at (734) 327-6643 or obtain an application form from this website. AACR Application Form
For more information on this press release, contact Val Cooper, Public Information/Community Relations Officer at (734) 327-6675, or via email at cooperv@wcroads.org.