I would like to encourage all of those in opposition to displaying the filled with litter blue ADOT bags to come join us on May 19, 2012.

I would be willing to bet that those who oppose the bags have never spent any notable time picking up the trash that others leave on the highway.

For those of us who frequently visit the highway, like myself, we have seen a monstrous change in the cleanliness of our local highways. I’m a cyclist and believe me, I see the difference.

Many folks generally say yes when I ask whether the blue bag display helps raise awareness, especially when they think about awareness and education. The conversations generated by the blue bag display raise awareness – awareness that someone cared about their community enough to collect trash and that litter is an eyesore.

If you want proof how much people care about the bags being left out, read this link to the Camp Verde Bugle” http://www.campverdebugleonline.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=33057&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=991&S=1, for 2,000 reasons.

The blue bags, in my opinion, are the single biggest reason that litter has been reduced.

Want to stop the blues? Come join us at our May highway clean-up event. Put your blues on display that say “I care about my community. Why don’t you?”

Gary Chamberlain
“Point Man” FVUSA

I agree with everything you say except leaving the bags out.

We have found that after picking up 1592 bags of crap between Cottonwood and Sedona in 36 months that leaving them out has provided a big educational opportunity.

As for the animals getting into our bags, I would also disagree in that the little critters have already “Licked up slick” the food in the trash long before it hits the bottom of a ADOT blue bag.

Thanks for input ….. and a whole lot of time energy and money would be saved if those peolpe who trash our country would give it a moment of thought and change their ways.

The trash transfer trucks heading north on our I-17 (Arizona Veteran Highway) in the area just north of Highway 101 where they exit, dump trash everywhere!

Our next FVUSA litter event is May 19, 2012, come join us when we clean 15 miles of Scenic Highway 89A and 15 miles of Highway 260. On Feb. 18, 2012 we had a WWII, 94 year-young veteran helping us as we recovered 209 bags of trash in these 30 miles.

Keep an EYE on the EYE for the details of all of our events.

Gary Chamberlain
“Point Man” FVUSA

We should all try to turn the “Blue” bag issue into a even more positive issue for the state of Arizona’s ADOT Adopt-A-Highway Program (AAHP).

By promoting the blue bags as an indicator of citizens getting involved at many levels, we are setting a new standard not only for our state but for other states to follow. For the past two years I have been in contact with other state Adopt-A-Highway managers who are more than impressed with what the Verde Valley, FVUSA effort has done to bring life into a failing ADOT AAH program. Our increased participation from 25% to 87% by the Permittee’s in three years has been recognized by many.

In my opinion, the ADOT AAHP has failed because the managers of the program have failed to lead, enforce the requirements and inspire those in the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway Program to honor their obligation instead of accepting the standard low-bar ADOT statement to me of “Something is better than nothing”. The program has also failed because many of those who(Permittee’s) have their names on the ADOT AAHP signs have for one reason or another been allowed by ADOT to only clean their sections two times or less per year even though the ADOT AAH requirement is 3x or more for Scenic Highways per ADOT’s own web information.

Think about it, 3x per year! From our and my own hands-on experience that means no more than 9 hours per year at 3 hours per effort. Nine hours per year should be a reasonable amount of time for those who are part of this program and anything less should be a slap in the face to the tax-payers who fund this program. The state employee’s who get paid to manage this program have lost control of their ability to manage.

The benefits of clean highways means a better chance of increased tourism, home sales, home values, new businesses, community pride and getting to know your neighbor. Our Verde Valley a recycling effort is a one-of-a-kind example of how businesses, residents and hopefully our should-be, ADOT partners, need to come together and be “trend setters” and the “Gold” standard for other AAH programs to follow….. We need to lead from the front not the rear.

Mowed highways, ADOT AAHP participation, recycling and a willing ADOT partnership could make for a unique Arizona that already has been recognized for its out-of-the box approach and efforts … That is until this latest poor decision by ADOT to squelch the “Blue” bag on display effort to educate and raise awareness. Highway trash is the cancer that kills the economy of communities and “The Broken Window Theory” describes what is happening across the country.

Mowing, ADOT, how can you expect to have a functioning AAHP and not mow the highway shoulders and medians for the AAH volunteers to make it safe and very soon “Snake” safe?

Maybe some of the ADOT employees should come help our Verde Valley groups and actually experience what we experience and that would include seeing 30 miles of highway that is far more clean than they were in 2009.

There will be more coming on the “Blue” bag opportunities for Arizona and the nation in the near future ….. here’s a hint, “My Pet Rock”.

Gary Chamberlain
“Point Man” FVUSA

I am also quite proud that we have a business like Reese’s Tire and Tire Pro that would take their time & money to pick up this trash and take it to Morning Star where the people their are willing to donate their time to see that the recyclables don’t go into the landfill.

This is community effort at it’s best. For all the good things ADOT does do I feel they are wrong when it comes to this issue. They are adding unnecessarily to the landfill. This is one instance where government and local volunteers should come to an agreement for the good of the community.

i can think of lots of things to do with the money that would stay in my pocket rather than pay for the state to pick up jerks trash.

here’s a question for law enforcement? Why aren’t those inmates cleaning up the highways like they do in most states? Put the bums to work. Why is it okay for good citizen volunteers to sweat in the sun and pick up the trash FREE and not the people who sit in an air conditioned jails that we pay for?

i read a comment somewhere here about a man mad about his tax bill of less than $500. come to my state and your tax bill is six times that amount before you even spend a penny on sales tax & that is for a mid to lower income property in the state so don’t be bellyaching about your good life. we should be so lucky in illinois!!! that’s why a lot of us look to retire in indiana or michigan OR ARIZONA ~~~ to sum it up low lifes are the common denominator in this country & they yank the rest of us around by a chain of responsibility. my wife and i like your news. we read it when back home.

To anyone who opposes leaving the bags on the highway for education and awareness my questions to you are?

Have you ever helped with a ADOT AAH clean-up more than 6 times and know what that experience is like?

Are you aware of the differences in Scenic Highway 89A and Highway 260 that connect Camp Verde, Cottonwood and Sedona between 2009 and 2011?

Do you understand that the leaving of the bags in place are favored by many of the folks that brought this FVUSA effort to life in 2009 have spent hundreds of hours picking up trash and know that the desplay of the bags makes the difference? There are many who “get it”. Out of sight out of mind teaches nothing!

Are you willing to take on this entire FVUSA project if all of the key players walk away from their efforts because a few and many who always move their lips and leave their limbs in the chair to take this on as arm-chair-general?

Are you willing to meet with me to discuss any of these topic?

It’s easy to arrange and it might be benefical for both parties. Willing to meet you at a public place, on a day that is acceptable to both parties.

Randall’s in Cottonwood for breakfast works for me, how about you?

Gary Chamberlain
“Point Man” FVUSA

Litter bugs do so without conscience, and in-your-face evidence that others will clean up after them might be a sign of acceptance of their slovenly ways.

Just another point of view.