This is "Actual Factual DeKalb," a regular column in which I answer reader questions about goings-on and history in DeKalb County.
Reader Aileen asks: Why doesn't DeKalb County have any street sweepers? Would street sweeping help the county comply with the Clean Water Act?
Good one, Aileen.
Even DeKalb County wanted to talk about it. That was because it just so happens there’s news on this front.
From county spokesman Andrew Cauthen:
“In DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond’s 2017 budget, approved by commissioners on Feb. 28, there is funding to purchase four street sweepers. Once purchased, CEO Thurmond has approved a plan to sweep each of the county-maintained 7,160 streets four times annually. That’s a total of approximately 16,000 miles of street sweeping a year.”
But:
The county hasn’t bought them yet.
But:
On Saturday, Thurmond is kicking off Operation Clean Sweep at 8 a.m. at Wade Walker Park YMCA, 5585 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain.
It’s “a year-round initiative to improve the livability and cleanliness of the county by targeting litter and debris in county storm drains, streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way.”
Cauthen said DeKalb has rented a street sweeper, which will be in operation Saturday.
— I am a staff writer with the AJC and a proud DeKalb County resident. To submit “Actual Factual DeKalb” questions, contact me at joshua.sharpe@ajc.com, @JoshuaWSharpe on Twitter or via the form below.
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