The Havre Pride/City Cleanup Day is coming up soon and the people who organize it are looking for some help.
The program provides garbage bags and prizes to members of the community who donate their time helping to pick up trash in Havre. The purpose of the cleanup is to generally improve the appearance of the community and to get the city prepared for Festival Days.
Havre Pride is supported by donations, said Kim Cripps, chair of the program. In order to provide cleaning supplies and services, like the garbage bags and trucks used to haul away large items, Havre Pride needs to raise $700 a year to pay for the twice-a-year cleanup.
Cripps said that beautifying Havre is everyone's job and urged people to take care of their property. "I would say that this summer is one of the worst," said Cripps. "There's a lot more yards and businesses with weeds."
Cripps, a Realtor, estimates that badly kept yards with weeds, old vehicles, and garbage can decrease the property value of the entire neighborhood by 5 to 10 percent.
"We as a community need to be aware that as property owners and landlords and tenants that you as an individual or group or business are responsible to keep up your property from the curbs to the middle of the alleys," Cripps said. "Weed tickets are out there at an expensive rate."
Cripps also said that having poorly kept property may make a bad impression on people considering moving to Havre, and even those just passing through.
The Havre Pride/City Cleanup Day is scheduled for Sept. 8. Those who would like to donate money to support the project can call Cripps at 265-4353 or 265-5998.
