By Jon Nehring
Now that winter weather is finally behind us, and we’re starting to enjoy longer and warmer days, spring cleaning may be on your mind. It just makes sense to open windows, air out rooms and tidy up when the weather is milder.
If your spring cleaning plans include getting rid of eyesores and items you no longer need, we’re offering city residents a couple of great free options. The City Council and I believe it is important to make our community more attractive and welcoming.
As we have for years, the city offers these events as easy ways to help you clean up your home and property. First is Clean Sweep from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at Marysville Public Works, 80 Columbia Ave.
Last year we served 328 homes, disposed of more than 18 tons of trash, recycled 34 refrigerators and 408 TVs, and donated loads of usable household goods.
City residents can bring one vehicle load per household for free disposal, recycling and donation. You can bring bagged trash, yard waste, scrap metal, appliances, tires, car and marine batteries, electronics, clothing and household items.
Learn more at www.marysvillewa.gov/900/Clean-Sweep.
Next is Shred-A-Thon, from 9 a.m. to noon May 18, where you can bring up to six boxes of paperwork to City Hall, 1049 State Ave., for shredding. You can also bring clean Styrofoam for recycling and working computers/electronics.
Donations to the Marysville Food Bank also will be accepted.
Throughout the year, our Code Enforcement, Public Works and Parks teams continue to clean and beautify public spaces. Code Enforcement is a division of our Police Department that targets neighborhood eyesores including junk vehicles and excessive accumulation of trash that threaten property values and quality of life for others nearby.
These officers work with willing residents to bring them into compliance, and use enforcement when those out of compliance refuse to work toward improvement. Last year they worked on more than 400 cases and achieved some remarkable results. Other city workers clean our parks, roads and public spaces year-round as well.
All of these efforts taken together – by individuals and by the city – make our community more attractive and can help increase property values. I call that a win/win. Thanks for doing your part.
Jon Nehring is the mayor of Marysville. His column runs monthly.
