City gets update on KMBB Adopt a Road Project

Mar. 19—Keep Milledgeville Baldwin Beautiful is making progress in its revamping efforts, and a local Adopt a Road program has launched.

Dr. Jeff Wells attended last Tuesday night's Milledgeville City Council meeting where he informed government officials of some of the work going on with KMBB.

Wells, who serves as KMBB chairman, wasted no time in thanking city officials for their efforts in leading the city and recognizing that litter and blight are a problem in the community.

"As many of you know, COVID-19 took its toll on many things in our nation and our community, and KMBB was one of them," Wells said. "As the board of directors of the organization, and subsequently much of the work on the KMBB board fell dormant. Unfortunately, what did not fall dormant was litter and trash gathered along the streets and highways of Milledgeville and Baldwin County."

Wells said litter is a big issue again.

"We are very grateful for organizations in our community, including The Union-Recorder, the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners, along with various civic groups and businesses who have all joined with us this last year and helped us move this effort forward as one way the citizenry can do its part in combating litter in our beautiful city and county," Wells said.

He pointed out that litter and blight have second and third order effects on a community.

"Not only is it against the law, but (it also) deters businesses and citizens from wanting to locate or relocate here," the KMBB chairman said. "If we've heard it once, we heard it a million times when people say, 'If no one else cares, why should I?'"

Scholars and environmental science people along with criminal justice and public government administrators have mentioned oftentimes that litter sends what Wells calls a signal to criminals and residents that the community doesn't care largely about what happens in its neighborhoods.

"We also know that litter attracts more litter, and people feel safer in a cleaner neighborhood than one that is littered," Wells said. "It is something that impacts us all in all council districts and in all parts of Milledgeville and all sectors of the community, civic, business, spiritual and social."

Wells said that is where KMBB would like to offer more help.

Handouts were presented to each of the city council members and others involved in city government by Kara Lassiter, president and chief executive officer of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce.

"We chose to show you in the first handout the first years that KMBB was part of this community," Wells said.

It stretched back to 2014.

During that first year of existence as an organization, more than $50,000 worth of labor was produced, and there were several volunteers involved in the projects.

"We had 50 community and business partners, 40 miles of roadway that were cleaned up and 120 tires removed from the Oconee River," Wells said. "Our focus is helping the community realize the impact of litter and to promote recycling as an alternative to trash and the collaborative effort of the community in creating beautiful, caring communities in which to live."

During its decade of existence, Wells said KMBB has established a board of directors and revised its bylaws. The KMBB board is also working toward finalizing a three-year strategic plan and establishing the crown jewel of the organization, an Adopt a Road Program.

There are currently between five and seven partners working closely with the organization.

One of those partners is the Milledgeville Rotary Club.

"These partners have adopted roads in the county and through the generosity of the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners signs with removable tabs for the partners have been purchased," Wells said.

An agreement has also been reached with Baldwin County Fire Rescue to provide vests, bags and safety signs to protect volunteers during trash pickup events.

Wells said presentations have been made at the local Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Exchange Club and at county commission meetings.

Several other organizations have also invited KMBB officials to make presentations.

All of the local area schools and the three local colleges also have been contacted by KMBB about their need for their involvement.

Wells said it's all about education and sharing their mission with the entire community.