Resident Wants County To Be More Responsive To Illegal Dumping

Trash is reportedly piling up throughout Crawford County, which prompted a Steelville area resident to ask commissioners on June 4 whose responsibility it is to clean it up.

Tim Lincoln lives in the area of Thurman Lake Road. He told commissioners that piles of trash and tires are being illegally dumped on private property. 

Lincoln said that he has called the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department for assistance. Lincoln appeared frustrated that nobody would give him a straight answer for who was in charge of collecting it.

“I’m not getting anywhere,” Lincoln said. “Who do I call to say, ‘there’s more trash; can you pick it up?’ I’ve gotten that it is not the county’s responsibility; call the sheriff’s department. Who do I call to get the job done?”

Sheriff Darin Layman said Lincoln could contact him and that his department may be able to handle the cleanup, but they need somewhere to put the trash.

Commissioners said the problem exists county-wide. District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast said that his team drives around picking up trash on rainy days and there is a pile behind the shed.

“It’s a nuisance and ongoing problem,” Boast said.

District 1 Commissioner Rob Cummings said they are having the same problem on his roads. He added that they are getting more creative about the dumping as well.

The trash appears to be from a mix of local residents and out-of-town visitors.