SALISBURY -- Starting July 1, Wicomico County will eliminate the street sweeping and leaf cleanup services it has offered to residents of housing developments for years.
"It might not seem like a big deal, but once you don't sweep, you'll see weeds growing up on the curb," said John Redden, acting Public Works director.
County Executive Richard M. Pollitt Jr. cut the services and also funds for herbicide spraying to save about $100,000 in the fiscal year 2010 budget. With the county's economic picture dark for the foreseeable future, Pollitt said leaf collection and street sweeping might not return for a "long time."
"It's nice to do and goes to the image of the county, but when you don't have a lot of money to go around, they finish a far-distant second," Pollitt said.
The decision affects more than 160 subdivisions throughout the county. It also affects Fruitland, Delmar and other municipalities which are recipients of the county's street sweeping service.
Bruce Murphy, who lives in the Willow Creek subdivision near Pemberton Road, said he views it as a "typical" cutback given tough economic times. The maintenance hiatus doesn't appear to be a big deal, but it will drive up the county's costs in the future, he said.
"The end result is that the county is cutting its own foot off," said Murphy, 49.
Pollitt said residents have a right to be upset over the changes.
"I hope every time people see a decrease in the level of services, they get very upset and think about what it takes to run a county," Pollitt said.
Read Full Article
0 comments:
Post a Comment