The organizers of My Winona, a grassroots community improvement group, are urging citizens to join together to give Winona a little more curb appeal.
Dr. Louie Harrison spearheaded the formation of My Winona last fall with a community-wide cleanup. The day was a success, however, he said little interest has been shown by residents to keep the cleanup efforts up.
“It has gotten better,” Harrison told the Winona Board of Aldermen about litter throughout Winona. “However, the grass is still in the streets. The city can’t use the street sweeper to clean the streets if there is grass growing over the curb.”
Harrison proposed an advertising campaign to promote cleaning up the streets as well as business and residential property in Winona. He said the city needs to remind citizens to edge along the curbs to prevent grass from growing into the street, pick up little and debris around their neighborhood, and keep property neat and maintained.
Harrison explained that grass growing over the curb can lead to cracks in the pavement where water can penetrate and lead to damaged streets and potholes. He said litter thrown in curbs and gutters can clog street grates and cause flooding on city streets. And residents need to keep property neat and maintained to prevent an increase in insects, mice, and snakes.
Harrison also informed the city that he is currently collecting signatures on a petition to urge Mississippi Department of Transportation to mow and keep up highways going through town more frequently.
“MDOT is not doing their jobs,” Harrison said. “We need to deliver this petition to MDOT to let them know we want them to do more.”
Harrison said My Winona hopes to recruit Winona’s businesses, churches, civic groups, schools and individuals to clean up and earn their way to becoming Business of the Year, Civic or Church Group of the Year, School of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. Also those going above and beyond in bettering the City of Winona will be recognized weekly in The Winona Times and on WONA as Citizen of the Month.
The Winona Board of Aldermen voted to spend a total of $2,000 on advertising to raise awareness in litter control and citywide beautification, which will continue over the next year.
The campaign kicks off immediately.
For more information on how you can get involved with My Winona, contact the Winona Main Street office at 283-4828.
