Keep Rutherford County Beautiful Full Committee Meeting

Keep Rutherford County Beautiful

Full Committee Agenda

July 28th, 2026

Woodrow Jones Conference Room, 12 p.m.

Attendees: Taylor Hardin, Brock Hefflin, Jerry Stensland, Lindy Abrams, Jenna Bailey, Allie Houtz

1. Administrative

   1. Funding

      1. TDA funding for FY 26-27

         1. $24,000 for programming, $20,000 for roadside pick-up

      2. Great to Greatest Grant

         1. Programming complete and report submitted

         2. $5,000 received

      3. Cigarette Litter Prevention and Recycling Program Grant

         1. Waiting on initial check ($3,500) to purchase supplies

         2. $5,000 pending

2. Programs and Events

   1. YouthWorks Partnership 

      1. River Access Cleanups

         1. Over 200 pounds of litter from the 221A and Gray’s Rd accesses

         2. Call for ideas on 221A litter prevention

            1. Cliffside volunteers, Duke Energy, TJCA recommended for adopting the river access

            2. Leave No Trace signage 

      2. Thermal Belt Rail Trail, Purple Martin Greenway, and Cleghorn Creek Cleanup

         1. Over 300 pounds of litter from the TBRT, PMG, Cleghorn Creek

      3. Pollinator Garden Work

         1. Lots of weeds pulled and hundreds of elderberries harvested

      4. Broad River Sweep

         1. Over 300 pounds of litter from Section 10 of the Broad River (221 to 221A)

         2. New jon boat for river sweeps donated by MountainTrue

3. Future Programs

   1. Cigarette Litter Prevention Program 

      1. $5,000 grant awarded

      2. Cigarette receptacle update

         1. Coxe, Gray’s, 221, 221A river accesses, two in downtown Spindale along TBRT

         2. Gray’s and 221A in need of replacement

      3. Future receptacles

         1. Rutherfordton locations

            1. Schedule litter scan with Lindy - Allie

         2. North Slope Skate Park

            1. Talk with Scott about permission - Allie

   2. Litter Bowl

      1. NCDOT’s Fall Sweep dates: Sept 12th-26th

      2. Proposed Litter Bowl dates: Sept 18th-28th

      3. Challenges from last year

         1. One school did not host a sweep in time to qualify

         2. Football games do not represent the whole school body and are difficult to schedule with volunteers

         3. Proposed solution: focus school outreach by collaborating with environmental clubs and recruiting volunteers during lunch hours

      4. School outreach

         1. Mass email and calls the week of August 3rd-7th - Allie

            1. New contact - Phil with R-S Central

         2. School visits - Allie

            1. Collaborate with environmental clubs

            2. Email sign-ups during lunch hour

      5. Committee member(s) to help with recruiting and leading community groups

         1. Chimney Rock State Park - Emily

         2. First Baptist Church - Lindy

         3. South Mountain Disc Golf - Lindy

         4. Fire Department - Brock

      6. Committee member(s) to help with litter kit building and supply delivery on Sept 17th

         1. Revisit in August meeting

      7. Committee member to help with school visits

         1. Revisit in August meeting

   3. Nomination for the Forest City Data Center Non-Profit of the Year Award 

      1. Committee member available to join?

         1. Don, Jenna, and Jerry will be attending

4. Upcoming Schedule

   1. Litter Committee Meeting - August 18th at 12 p.m.

      1. Meet to plan for Litter Bowl, Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, Hilltop Fall Fest