The Paris News

Regardless of how hard Keep Paris Beautiful/Make Lamar County Shine volunteers work to keep Paris and the county roadways and countryside presentable, trash and debris continue to outpace efforts.

Lamar County Commissioners have said they see no solutions to the burdensome, costly amount of trash thrown along the county roadsides and in ditches throughout the rural areas. Although code enforcement officers work inside most municipalities to enforce trash ordinances, there always seems to be more work to do. Some municipals are more successful than others. And all too often, city code enforcement results in more illegal dumping outside city borders.

Commissioners readily admit the county is spending large amounts from their budgets to clean up illegal dump sites and remove all kinds of debris from ditches in the sometimes not so remote as well as remote parts of the county.

The unsightly problem will continue until the Keep Paris Beautiful/Make Lamar County organization receives more support than it is currently receiving. This trashy problem deserves the combined efforts from everyone from the courthouse to the jailhouse; and from the fire house to the school house and to the church house.

Surely, representatives from the many organizations and agencies in this county can brainstorm ideas to seek a solution to this pesky trash problem.

What do other communities do?

Would recycle centers set up at manned sites several times a year at no charge to residents encourage the general population to refrain from illegal dumping? County funds spent in this manner might result in overall savings. During the past year, a Keep Paris Beautiful campaign to collect computers proved to be a huge success. Could not similar days be established for refrigerators and air conditions with a technician on site to remove condensers for a reasonable fee. Other collection days could be established for other things, such as tires and batteries as well as other hard-to-get-rid-of items. Tires would require some type of fees, but when collected in large amounts the fees the company charges to pick up tires might be reduced.

It is time for resourceful people to come up with reasonable solutions.

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Serving Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma

Publisher: Patrick Graham

5050 SE Loop 286
Paris, Texas 75460

Tel: 903-785-8744 | Email

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