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The Harlan County Fiscal Court discussed this year’s Spring Cleanup recently, taking the opportunity to honor one of the county’s biggest advocates for a clean Harlan, Pericles “Lakis” Mavinidis by naming this year’s cleanup month in his honor.

Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley brought up this year’s cleanup plan about midway through the meeting.

“The Spring Cleanup is coming up again,” Mosley said. “Last year, we made some changes to the way the cleanup month occurred…those worked very well.”

According to Mosley, many of the same processes will be utilized again this year including the locations and dates for the placement of roll off boxes.

“Waste Connections was a great partner, setting roll off boxes in each district,” Mosley said. “We’re going to utilize the locations that we utilized last year…District 1 will be April 1 – 7, District 2 will be April 8 – 14, District 3 will be April 15 – 21, District 4 will be April 22 – 28, and District 5 will be April 29 – May 5.”

Mosley explained more information concerning the cleanup will be released soon via social media, local publications, and radio.

“We’ll make sure people know about this, the goal is to get some advertising out before the end of this week,” Mosley said. “The roll off boxes will be out there, then if people want to take items to the transfer station, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that will be available too at no cost to the citizen.”

Mosley then made an announcement concerning the name of this year’s cleanup.

“We’re going to rebrand a little bit this year in celebration of someone who has been a part of cleaning up Harlan County for a little over 43 years,” Mosley said. “April will be known as Lakis Mavinidis Spring Cleanup Month this year.”

Mosley then read a proclamation designating April as Lakis Mavinidis Spring Cleanup Month.

“It is safe to say there is no one who has wanted a cleaner Harlan County through the course of time than Lakis Mavinidis,” Mosley said. “He of course served as our solid waste coordinator for many years, and now he is serving as our landfill director. There has been no one in the history of Harlan County who has wanted a cleaner Harlan County than Lakis.”

The proclamation mentioned Mavinidis began his career with Harlan County on Jan. 11, 1982.

“The Harlan County Fiscal Court wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Lakis for his dedication to the outstanding performance of his duties during his tenure, and for his passion for making Harlan County a better place,” Mosley read.

Mavinidis expressed his appreciation for the honor.

“I want to thank the Fiscal Court,” Mavinidis said. “Keeping our county clean is not just one person’s responsibility. It’s the responsibility of everyone…I want to thank you all for what you have done…I appreciate you all very much.”

Mosley encouraged Harlan County residents to observe this year’s event by cleaning up their property and exceeding the amount of refuse removed from the county last year.