City of Plainview would like residents and visitors to know illegal dumping is a serious matter and officers are on the lookout for those who choose not to dispose responsibly within the city limits. As most citizens know, the recycling drop-off location at 2nd and Columbia has been a popular area for illegal dumping. City staff recently installed better quality cameras with remote monitoring capabilities, allowing police dispatchers to watch this location 24/7 for violations.
According to Police Chief Ken Coughlin, since the cameras went live on 6/29/2015, officers have written 24 citations. Fines for illegal dumping are typically Class C misdemeanors up to $250 per violation, but can come with more severe penalties depending on the materials dumped. “With these new cameras and our dedicated officers, we hope to greatly reduce the amount of illegal dumping we have seen in the past.”
Not only is staff monitoring the new cameras, the city is experimenting with different options for citizens to view the site live as well. The link to view the camera may currently be found at www.plainviewtx.org.
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“The health and safety issues surrounding illegal dumping, as well as the overall appearance to our community is very important to us,” said City Manager Jeffrey Snyder.
In addition to targeting illegal dumping violations, city staff are reviewing additional ways to strengthen local ordinances on this matter, which are planned to be presented to City Council for consideration this fall.
As a reminder, residents of Plainview are able to dump for free at the city landfill located at 1031 CR Y by showing their water bill. Non-residents and businesses are able to dump as well by paying the tonnage fees at the gate.
City of Plainview is also looking at proactive ways to encourage residents to dispose responsibly by having its 1st Annual City-Wide Cleanup Day in cooperation with Operation: Serve 2015. The cleanup day will be held on Saturday, July 25th from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. Large roll-off containers will be provided at various locations throughout the city making it easier and more convenient for residents to legally dispose of their large items. All residents of Plainview are encouraged to participate. For more information, visit facebook.com/opserve2015.
