Sometimes all it takes to keep a community clean is a little competition. Thats how the communities of Midale, Lampman, and Bienfait are organizing their spring cleaning, with the second annual MLB Cleanup Competition.
According to Theresa Biller, the administrator for the Town of Lampman, it was the community of Lampman who first suggested the competition; however, the idea originally belonged to three other communities in the area.
“I came from a different community of Arcola, and they had been doing a cleanup competition with Manor and Kisbey, and then they added Stoughton, which became the SMAK Attack. We talked to them about starting a cleanup competition, and they suggested that we get our own going down here. I approached the towns last year, and Midale and Bienfait were on board.”
Mayor of Bienfait, Ken Bonokoski, says when Lampman requested the community be a part of it, they were on board.
“We took it back to council and council decided that every community should make sure their town looks good, so we passed a motion to carry on with it. Involved with the community, the public works, and council, we went to work to try and clean up our town and they did likewise.”
Administrator for the Town of Midale, Dena Scott, says alongside the general maintenance of the community, it also instills a sense of pride.
“Take pride in your community, to have it looking good. It reflects good on the community if everybody does their part to have their properties cleaned up.”
Each town is now urging their residents to get involved in cleaning up and beautifying their community. Including lawn care, cleaning up litter, and removing old vehicles.
Midale has a free dump day at their transfer station scheduled this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Biller says Lampman has had a number of free dump days as well.
Bienfait won the competition last year and will be hosting it this year. Bonokoski says this means they organized this year's efforts and will host the other two communities on the day of the judging.
“We will have to find the judges and get it in order. We sent out the invitations to Midale and Lampman, same as what happened to us last year. And then we will be hosting the award night at a restaurant in Bienfait.”
The communities will be judged on Wednesday, June 25th beginning at 9 a.m.