First impression important
posted Thursday, February 14th, 2013 @ 12:00 pm

Editor:

I was always told that the first impression is very important. Do you believe this is true?

Several weeks ago, Glen F. Post III, President & CEO of CenturyLink, made an announcement regarding expansion and job creation in our community. Hopefully, some of their employees will relocate to our community. As a former employee of State Farm, I know how important it is to make a decision to relocate.

Beautification will also be a part of that decision.

With that in mind, I am asking the Ouachita Parish citizens to please join me in cleaning up our community prior to the arrival of CenturyLink employees. Also, let me take this opportunity to explain why I introduced the Parish Trash Ordinance. It was for a legitimate reason — NOT to invade on one's rights nor introduce an ordinance for the sake of change.

We have an ongoing litter and illegal dumping problem in our parish. It is costing the parish over $200,000 annually for cleanup efforts and causes serious drainage issues.

The objective of the trash ordinance is to have a clean and safe community and combat the litter and illegal dumping. Sometimes a governing body must pass new ordinances and change policies. As President Abraham Lincoln stated, "...No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things..."

In March 2013, I want to reintroduce the proposed trash ordinance with a few exceptions. I will be letting the community know of these exceptions in the coming weeks. If passed and with your help, we will have a cleaner and safer community. So I ask you to please support this Parish Trash Ordinance. And yes, you will personally benefit in the following ways: Property values will increase instead of decrease; Attract new business to our parish; Crime reduction because litter has a negative perception on a community; Prolong our environment and landfills; Safer and cleaner water system.

If you have any questions, please call me at (318) 366-0795 or e-mail me at pmoore03@comcast.net. Please join the Police Jury in cleaning up our community before the arrival of CenturyLink employees to our parish.

Pat Moore
Ouachita Parish Police Juror