RED OAK, Iowa — Red Oak residents and property owners will have an opportunity to declutter their homes and yards during a city-wide clean-up event taking place Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds gravel parking lot near the white fair building.
The event is being funded by a new $4 monthly fee added to city water bills and is free of charge to residents dropping off trash, furniture, appliances, and various other unwanted items.
During Monday’s City Council meeting, City Administrator Lisa Kotter detailed the traffic route for accessing the drop-off site. Participants will enter at 8th Street near Red Oak High School, follow signage through the high school lot, then travel via Alix Avenue toward the nursing home entrance, ending at the fairgrounds' big gravel lot.
Proof of residency or ownership is required, such as a driver’s license, water bill, or property tax statement, and will be checked near the east end of the high school parking lot.
In addition to general refuse, contractors will handle specific items, including:
- Tires
- E-waste
- Paint cans (collected and dried out by John Gross)
- Scrap metal Kotter noted that scrap from the tornado-damaged street department shop will also be hauled off during the event.
Not accepted: 🚫 Household hazardous waste 🚫 Large construction debris
The city is also offering pickup services, primarily for elderly or mobility-limited residents. As of this week, over 50 households have signed up. Volunteers will assist in collecting items and will be identified by bright dashboard signs for easy site access.