Cortez’s annual City Cleanup Week started Saturday with about 50 volunteers, who worked about three hours to spruce up public places.
It was the fourth year the city has hosted the cleanup, and several public officials participated, including Mayor Karen Sheek and City Manager Shane Hale.
Volunteers picked up litter, hosed down playground equipment and removed road debris. The city will pick up extra bags and boxes of trash for free on residents’ regularly scheduled trash days throughout the week, leading up to a free drop-off day on May 6.
On Saturday, most of the work was done around Parque de Vida and some of the town’s busiest intersections. City employees in orange vests helped direct traffic and show volunteers where to go.
Despite cold weather and a dusting of snow, several families and church groups, including a large contingent from the Church of Latter-Day Saints, showed up to help.
“I think we had a really good showing from our faith-based community,” Hale said. “That’s really been a connection that the city’s made over the last couple years.”
The city handed out T-shirts and a free lunch to participants.
Town residents may drop off trash at the Parque de Vida parking lot from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Hale said the drop-off day used to be at the BMX park, but organizers moved it this year because of scheduling conflicts. According to a news release, the city will not accept tires, appliances, paint, chemicals, oil, hazardous materials or liquid. Large branches and pieces of metal will be accepted only on the drop-off day.
Hale said the inclement weather was par for the course for the event.
“Every (date) I’ve picked, we’ve had horrible weather,” he said.
He said he hopes for more participation the rest of the week.
