City’s clean up efforts continue

The city of Russellville’s efforts to clean and remove dilapidated and abandoned structures has been an ongoing process for several years, but its one that some residents have been glad to see.

“I would like to send a big shout out to the city of Russellville for doing such a great job cleaning up the town that I love,” Linda Young Suggs said.

Suggs, who lives in the Reedtown community, said she has noticed a steady improvement in the appearance of the city and commended all the city departments for their work.

Since early 2009, Russellville building official Bill Fuller has helped coordinate the demolition and removal of 51 structures in Russellville. Some have been torn down and hauled away, while others have been used as training exercises and burned by the city’s fire department.

“Our office is constantly looking at structures that have become nuisances, hazards or eyesores in the community,” Fuller said.

“All the city’s departments have been great to work with helping us make sure these structures are removed safely and in a timely manner.”

Suggs said the removal of old abandoned homes improves the overall appearance of the community, but it also creates safer environments as well.

“There was one old house that I know people were pulling up to making drug deals,” she said.

“That house was torn down and people can’t go there anymore.”

She also pointed to one structure that was removed and now family members use it to raise a large garden.

“The town is looking good, but there is more work that needs to be done,” said Suggs, who is a former member of the city’s zoning board.

“For all of our former residents that now live out of town and will be visiting for the Fourth of July, if you own property please take a look around and see if there is anything that you would like to be done to contribute to this effort to make our hometown look better.”

“I would like to thank all the citizens of Russellville who have already put forth effort towards the cleanup of their property by calling Mr. Fuller and having all their old buildings that are no longer in use or in the condition to be renovated demolished.”

Fuller said his office is constantly looking at properties to determine if they are a nuisance to the community or present certain dangers.

“It’s an ongoing process, but it is something we are always looking into,” Fuller said.

“There are more that we may look to remove soon.”

For Suggs, the work to clean her hometown has been a joy to see, but she reminds residents that it’s a duty and responsibility to get involved.

“Remember what the late President John F. Kennedy said, “It’s not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for country,” she said.

“The same saying can apply for our city. Let’s stop talking and start doing things. It’s not what our city can do for us, but what we can do for our city.”