One step forward two steps back for WM Sanitation

City tackles holiday trash collection issues over Christmas, New Year’s rescheduling

By John Rech news@theeveningtimes.com The holidays can be a hectic time, and that doesn’t exclude the West Memphis Sanitation Department, who had to contend with back-to-back-to back holiday trash collection services surrounding the recent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holidays.

West Memphis sanitation announced a condensed schedule serving all five of its normal daily routes in the three weekdays before Thanksgiving. The city announced cancelation the holiday service on Monday at 11 a.m. after it discovered too many vacations granted combined with employees calling in sick made the commitment to residential customers impossible. Regular routes resumed for Monday through Wednesday customers. Thursday and Friday routes waited another full week for service.

It wasn't the first time the department fell flat in the exact same way, The department often had holiday staffing problems under former superintendent Leroy Turner. This holiday season went off with current Public Works Director Michael Bonner on paid suspension.

The Sanitation Department stepped up successfully for its Christmas collection commitments with timely announcements made through the media and social media. It took a step backward with late communication coming on the week leading up to the New Year's Holiday.

City social media announced on Thursday December 30 that Thursday routes were serviced on Wednesday the 29th with Friday routes moving to Thursday.

Sanitation workers did their best to cover the late communication. Citizens reported on social media that garbage collectors hunted down bins in the back yard and took them to the streets. Several comments on the West Memphis and Neighbors Facebook Group page commended sanitation workers efforts on the days leading up to the new year.

'Well, they got ours the good old-fashioned way today like they did back in the good old days,' said Junior Boles as he laid down some positive emojis. 'Just walked up out of nowhere, all the way up in the yard and got the trash like they used to.

'Thankfully the men got ours from the yard,' said Cheryl Milton Wigginton.

'Hopefully it gets to them that I sure do appreciate the extra mile.'

'Great job West Memphis Sanitation Department,' said Mandy Humpries.

'Happy New Year to you and thank you.'

Photo courtesy of the City of West Memphis