OVERALL IMPRESSION
How we are evaluated
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Of course, the focus here is cleanliness, lack of litter and graffiti. Maintenance of public open spaces, medians, streets, sidewalks, curbs, ditches and shoulders. The condition of unattended buildings, lots and trash receptacles. The existence of dog waste policies and receptacles. Maintenance of hardscapes: lamp posts, benches and playgrounds. The appropriate use and placement of graphic elements such as banners, signs and murals.
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Clear evidence of wide community involvement and youth participation in tidiness and Clean-up Days
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And finally, the recognition given to volunteer efforts throughout the community at all levels.
How Coshocton excels in this category
Early each spring CIB kicks off the year with a Stakes Holder Meeting designed to inform and educate the community of upcoming events and plans for the AIB judges visit. Various organizations begin to communicate with their volunteers to set a yearlong schedule to clean up and maintain our community. Coshocton in Bloom, Roscoe Village, Clary Gardens, Tree Commission, Rotary, Kiwanis, United Way, Lake Park, Kids America, Our Town Coshocton, Pomerene Center for the Arts, 4H, Master gardeners, Boy/Girl Scouts, and city and county officials all participate.
Tidiness efforts are overseen by the city’s Service Director, and the street superintendent. Crews are assigned to do street sweeping, leaf collection, painting of lines on roads, maintenance of parks, cemeteries, etc. There are designated cemetery and city-wide “clean-up” days. The city enforces regulations on the timely removal of political and garage sale signs. Graffiti is removed as soon as it is observed.
Each year the City of Coshocton works with the Coshocton County Recycling and Litter Prevention Office to create an annual tire drop-off site at the county fairgrounds. The city leaves are collected in the fall and taken to a local botanical garden for composting.
Christmas trees are collected and composted by the city’s waste management vendor. The local Environmental and Litter Prevention Department presents frequent educational events for schools, 4-H clubs and scouts.
Much of the enforcement of local litter laws is handled by the city Health Department’s Director of Environmental Health inspecting schools, restaurants, and investigating complaints of trash accumulation problems, mowing of vacant lots, etc.
