Grant funding helps make the major upgrade a reality

By RANDALL ALLEN

Horizon Reporter

PEA RIDGE-The Clay County Sanitation Department is set to open a new trash convenience center here next week.

The new Davistown Loop site offering a major upgrade from the previous outdated facility here in the Pea Ridge community will begin operations on Monday, June 2.

Solid waste board chairman Winton Young spoke about the benefits of the new trash site.

“It is bigger and we have a compactor on site,” Young said at a gathering at the new site, where officials announced the grand opening.   “We can compact the trash now and get rid of the small containers at the old location.”

Young also explained the benefits of moving the facility to Davistown Loop from its old location on Highway 53.

“It looks better, and it’s hidden from the main road,” he said.  “Tourists coming into Clay County won’t see the site.”

Road Commissioner Jason Browning and his crew cleared the site, leveled it, and put gravel at the new location, paving the way for the new facility to be built.

The Davistown Loop location was also assisted in a big way by grant funding, as county mayor Dale Reagan explained.

“We want to thank TDEC for the convenience center grant,” Reagan said at the event.  “We got a grant roughly for $98,000 with a 10% county match.

“This makes the third compactor that we have.  The only location lacking a compactor is Hermitage Springs.”

The county mayor explained compactors save the county money by keeping trash out of the rain.

“Trash that is compacted keeps it out of the rain,” Reagan said.  “When the trash is hauled to the landfill, rain adds to the weight that the landfill charges the county.

“The state is wanting to get away from the smaller dumpsters.”

Reagan also offered his appreciation to others who helped make the new site become a reality.

“We want to thank the UCDD, solid waste board, and everyone,” he said.  “Thanks to everyone who helped, we were able to do this project.”

UCDD representative Lilly Hall outlined her organization’s role in helping secure funding for the upgrade.

Hall said she and now retired UCDD employee Lisa Luck offered help “on getting the solid waste grant,” with TDEC inspections, and towards the grant process as a whole.

“It’s a very nice site,” Hall said at the gathering.

When the Davistown Loop trash convenience center opens next week, the old Highway 53 site will be closed shortly after.

“We are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday,” Pea Ridge sanitation worker Roger Gray said, before reminding residents wood, tires, and mattresses will not be accepted at the site.