Neighbors push to make sure the streets are clean by the Colorado State Fairgrounds

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- For the last year, residents that live near the Colorado State Fairgrounds have asked for street sweeping to be brought back during the annual event. It wasn't until last week when the City of Pueblo confirmed the street swiping was going to happen.

Pueblo City Council approved multiple trash containers to be put throughout neighborhoods near the Colorado State Fairgrounds. The city contracted with private companies to have trash containers set up and serviced daily, except for Sundays and Labor Day.

A total of five dumpster containers were put out.

In addition to the neighborhood-placed dumpsters provided, Pueblo Public Works Department told KRDO they provide increased street sweepers throughout the 11-day event. Two sweepers operate each evening, starting around closing time for the Colorado State Fair and the carnival. Sweepers will cover approximately a half square mile of the surrounding neighborhood or 370 acres, including the Colorado State Fairgrounds.

According to officials, the City of Pueblo has spent nearly $10,000 on the new services in the neighboring communities.

One of the neighborhood group leaders, John Nesbitt, said it shouldn't have taken a year of advocating for this to get approved.

"Yes, I chose to live next to the fair, but you have to kind of take care of the people no matter who lives around the fair," said Nesbitt.

Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes, however, said they had done street sweeping every year. But, after many concerns from the community, they stepped up to make it better.

"I guess it wasn't to the residents' satisfaction in the area, but there was something that did happen and that it was not a consistent setup route. So this year, we kind of refined the routes that they were going to take and made sure that the several blocks in a radius out from the state fairgrounds were taken care of, too," said Hayes.

Nesbitt admitted that he had noticed a difference this year. He said he sees less trash around the neighborhood so far.