The downtown should be a cleaner place this fall thanks to a co-operative effort headed by the Yorkton Business Improvement District.
Phil DeVos, executive director with the YBID told a press conference last Wednesday the new program has the organization funding a program whereby someone will be picking garbage off the streets in the YBID area, five hours a day, five days a week until the snow flies.
"The program will start now and run until the snow falls," said YBID chair Corvyn Neufeld.
DeVos said it is a program unique to Yorkton among BID organizations.
"It's part of our mandate to keep the city modern looking, clean looking," he said.
The Clean Start Program is a way for the YBID to help its more than 400 members keep the downtown "clean and attractive for their customers," said Neufeld, adding the program is part of an effort to make the downtown "an attractive destination for people who come as customers."
The local YBID is working with SIGN who are overseeing the three people who will be doing the actual work.
SIGN executive director Andrew Sedley said the program is a positive one.
"It's very exciting to be partnering with YBID to help make our community a cleaner place," he said.
Sedley said he hopes as a community people follow suit and pitch-in to keep streets clean by "taking more ownership of our community."
Yorkton Mayor James Wilson said the City is happy to be the third partner, adding the project is another step in improving the downtown.
"Look at the downtown core the way that it was 10-years ago to what it is today," he suggested, adding the YBID has been an important group in helping the improvements move forward. The changes help "make it a better place to love, a place people want to be part of."
