There's a new City employee walking around Main Street and West Avenue, and his job is to keep Downtown Lenoir clean and tidy and help out visitors as needed.
Well, Darren Bryant isn't technically a new employee. For the past year, Darren has worked in the Sanitation Division of Public Works. He moved into the Main Street Attendant position June 1, and has been learning the ropes, or rather, the sidewalks, for the past two weeks. Darren's primary duties are cleaning City Hall and the Police Department and picking up around Downtown Lenoir, and assisting visitors.
Darren will be working Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30. His schedule may vary depending on events and such. After cleaning City Hall and the Police headquarters, Darren will head outside to blow off sidewalks and empty trash and recycling cans. Then, he takes a trash grabber and dust pan and starts walking the sidewalks looking for stray bits of litter. Darren also cleans the municipal parking lots in Downtown.
Darren said his favorite part of the new job is talking with business owners and visitors.
"I really enjoy interacting with everyone. I already know half of the people up here, and I'm getting to know more," Darren said. "Everyone I talk to says they're very pleased to see someone keeping up Downtown, and to see someone staying on it consistently each day."
In addition to funding the new Main Street Attendant position, the City is also buying a Billy Goat street vacuum to help with the work. The Billy Goat is a heavy-duty, gas powered vacuum designed for cleaning commercial lots, parks, city streets, and more. The Billy Goat can pick up cans, bottles, grass, leaves, and litter.
"That'll make it a lot easier to keep everything cleaned up," Darren said.
Public Works Director Jared Wright said he was pleased when staff started discussing adding the Main Street Attendant position back to the Public Works roster. Having a consistent presence in Downtown offers a tremendous amount of benefit to the City.
"Darren is able to respond more quickly to Downtown needs as they arise, and his amiable personality is a great fit for the position," Wright said. "We needed someone with the ability to do the work and the personality that welcomes folks to our City. Darren fits that description very well and I’m excited for him to grow into this role over the coming weeks."
Darren is responsible for areas between Mulberry and Boundary streets and College and Ashe avenues.
Darren Bryant has been cleaning and taking care of Downtown Lenoir for the past two weeks.
Darren covers Downtown from Boundary to Mulberry streets and College to Ashe avenues.
The City ordered a Billy Goat MV vacuum to help Darren keep Downtown Lenoir clean and tidy.