Trash Talk

432 pounds of litter—and a bigger problem beneath it

I’d had enough! After seeing roadside litter pile up along North County Road 49, a few of us organized a Saturday morning cleanup. The result? 432 pounds of trash collected in just 0.3 miles—an eye-opening (and back-breaking) experience.

😕 What’s More Concerning?

Among the litter, we found an alarming number of empty beer and liquor bottles—a clear sign that drinking and driving is still a major issue, despite decades of laws against it.

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🚔 The Inmate Labor Dilemma

When I ran for Chairman, I planned to bring back county inmates for litter patrol—but after taking office, I hit two major roadblocks.

➡️ Insurance & Liability

If an inmate were injured or worse, Houston County would be 100% liable for medical costs for life. That’s a financial and legal risk too big to ignore.

➡️ They Don’t Make Inmates Like They Used To

Some suggest using non-violent offenders—but the reality is, in 2025, most are in and out of jail within days or even hours. The ones who stay? They’re not the people we should have walking the streets picking up litter.

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📉 The Bottom Line

Houston County needs better solutions for litter control. We’ll keep pushing for answers—but for now, the best thing we can do is step up as a community and take care of our own backyard.

Got ideas? Reply to this email—I’d love to hear them.