Clarkston plans town cleanup week with dumpsters, asks church wards for volunteer assistance

Clarkston officials discussed plans for a townwide cleanup and agreed to a weeklong dumpster placement later in September, with the council asking church wards to provide volunteers to help elderly or needy residents.

Timing and logistics: The council proposed placing dumpsters for one week starting around the week of Sept. 22 and removing them on Sept. 27. The mayor said he will send a clarification letter to bishops and ask ward leaders to supply contact names of volunteers who can assist residents who request help. The council said the town would not ask religious leaders to identify specific residents; rather, wards would provide volunteers or a contact so the council could arrange help.

Costs and vendor notes: Council discussion noted the town is negotiating vendor rates; the mayor said he may use a vendor other than Waste Management because of cost concerns. The mayor observed that local vendor service can be cheaper and may result in a lower bill to the town.

Next steps: The council asked staff to send the letters to bishops, give them two Sundays to announce the cleanup, and plan to place dumpsters during the agreed week. A council member asked volunteers to remind residents to check whether they need building or zoning permits before work begins on private property.