Citizens upset about dumping at Greenwood Cemetery

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Concerned citizens Andrew Wright Sr., left, and Charles Howard, right, with the local Greenwood Cemetery property committee stand among the trash that has been dumped out by local citizens at the back of Greenwood Cemetery. A loveseat and sofa (in the far back) are pictured. Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette

February 22, 2013

Citizens upset about dumping at Greenwood Cemetery

Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Fri Feb 22, 2013, 10:00 PM EST

TIFTON — Two concerned citizens in the Tifton community are speaking out about the trash that has been thrown out at Greenwood Cemetery, located near J.T. Reddick Elementary School on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The cemetery has been a controversial issue for some years and the upkeep of the property has been under the legislation of the community.

Local men Charles Howard and Andrew Wright Sr. are concerned that the cemetery will eventually become a dump site.

Howard and Wright are volunteers with the local Greenwood Cemetery property committee, which is made up of approximately 15 volunteers. The committee helps with the upkeep of Greenwood Cemetery. Howard serves as the president, and Wright serves as the vice president. They both have been over the committee for five years.

The entrance to Greenwood Cemetery from MLK Jr. Drive appeared in order and clear of trash Monday afternoon. However, in the far back of the cemetery, beyond the many graves, sat a loveseat, sofa, television, broom, tires and other items in a grassy area with trees nearby.

“When people come bury their loved ones, they don’t want to see this,” Howard said looking at the discarded items.

He and Wright stated that they believe that the problem is being caused by the local landfill increasing its rates, as well as talk concerning the Tift County recycling drop-off site on South Central possibly looking at doing away with its dump site.

However, the dump site is still open and is available to the public free of charge. Citizens can drop off household items such as stoves, refrigerators, televisions and furniture (excluding items such as tires and roofing shingles).

Howard and Wright said they’re fearful that if the recycling center on South Central closes its dump site, the situation will get worse at the cemetery.

They commented that many of the residents on the south side are elderly and many others are on a fixed income and can’t afford to pay the landfill rates or travel the far distance to the site.

“People on a low income can’t afford it,” Wright said.

Howard added, “The county is supposed to be meeting with the city to see what can be done.”

The Gazette contacted City Manager Larry Riner concerning the rates at the landfill. He said that they went up on the household garbage rates for the county from $12.52 to $14.50. He stated, “We had to go up to cover the cost out there.”

He noted that the $12.52 rate has not increased since 2001, which is when the city and county combined solid waste pickup.

Carl Fortson with Tift County Code Enforcement, who is the director of Tift County Development Support Services, provided some information on illegal dumping. He said, “It’s illegal to dump anywhere.”

He noted that yard debris can be taken to the local inert landfill on Armour Road, off Highway 82 East. There is no curbside pickup outside the city limits.

Fortson’s advice to citizens is that if they see someone illegally dumping garbage and other items in the county, contact Tift County Code Enforcement at 386-7991. For the city, contact Tifton Code Enforcement at 391-3950.

He stated that word-of-mouth is the best way they can check into the situation. He also noted that getting the person’s tag number, if possible, will help.

The Gazette also met with Tift County Commissioners Melissa Chevers and Donnie Hester. They said that their main concern is people dumping items at the cemetery.

Hester is on the Greenwood Cemetery property committee. He said volunteers work hard to keep it clean. He stated that a “No Dumping” sign has been put up at the cemetery. He noted that someone had taken the sign down.

Chevers, who donates to the committee, commented that a lot of work has been done at the cemetery compared to what it used to look like in the past. She mentioned that Keep Tift Beautiful has also helped by donating

some roses to the committee to plant at the cemetery. She and Hester stated that the committee has been doing a great job.

“We have to take pride in where we are,” Chevers said, noting that family members don’t want to visit a loved one at their final resting place and see a sofa nearby. She stated that it’s very disrespectful.

According to she and Hester, “The city and county are working together trying to come up with the best solution to fit all citizens.”

Also, Howard and Wright stated that the committee needs help with funding to lay dirt where the trees are located in the back of the cemetery. They plan to have a local business clear out the trees so that the area can be used for more graves.

Families pay a one-time fee of about $300 to the president of the Greenwood Cemetery property committee for the upkeep of a loved one’s grave. Howard and Wright stated that the committee spends close to $1,000 or $2,000 a month for the upkeep of the cemetery — this includes payment to someone to clean the cemetery and the repairing of any equipment that the committee provides. Other funding that the committee receives other than the one-time grave fee includes a small donation from a few local churches.

“We do a good job with what we have,” Howard said.

To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.

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