This past Saturday, the Jackson Parish Clean Up Day took place. For months John McCarty, Chairman on the Jackson Parish Police Jury Clean Up committee, had tirelessly toiled to get residents, business owners, local governmental officials and parish municipalities involved to help pick up trash and participate in the beautification of our parish. All participated in the event except for the Town of Jonesboro.
At the June 8th, Town of Jonesboro Board of Aldermen meeting, Mayor Leslie Thompson stated that the Town of Jonesboro would be a participant in the event. On Friday, June 11th , Thompson issued a statement that backpedaled on the pledge to have Town of Jonesboro employees who would be earning pay be involved in the event. The reasoning was stated, as shown below in a statement issued by Thompson, that due to unforeseen budgetary changes the town would not be able to pay the employees to do the work and therefore would not be able to assist the Parish as originally planned. It should be noted that Thompson, along with virtually every town official, volunteered their time to help pick up trash. See below for the statement issued by Mayor Thompson.
“Jackson Parish clean-up is scheduled June 12. Unfortunately, the town of Jonesboro has announced that it will not be able to officially participate. The nucleus of our workforce consisted of paid employees. Due to unforeseen budgetary changes, we will not be able to assist the parish as originally planned.”
“However, we ask any volunteers who would like to come out and help with clean up efforts, to meet us at Pearrie Park at 10:00 am. I will be there and hope to those of you who are available. A clean parish is important to us. We put forth effort toward this goal each and every day. Hope to see our town councilmen and residents in action on tomorrow. Let’s not focus on what we don’t have and do the best with what we do have.”
Mayor Thompson
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