By Kuempel                                             H.R. No. 556
         77R9444 RVH-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The citizens of Tyler, Texas, were the first in the
 1-2     world to initiate a litter cleanup program whereby community
 1-3     residents, civic organizations, and others adopted a section of
 1-4     highway in their community to remove roadside trash on a regular
 1-5     basis; since its inception in 1985, more than 4,100 civic
 1-6     organizations across the state have participated in the  acclaimed
 1-7     Adopt-a-Highway program; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, In 1997, the citizens of Parker County and the
 1-9     county commissioners court created a program similar to the
1-10     Adopt-a-Highway program to keep its scenic country roads clean; the
1-11     Adopt-a-Country-Road program allows participants, through an
1-12     agreement with the county commissioners court, to "adopt" a
1-13     two-mile stretch of country road for two years with a commitment to
1-14     clean it a minimum of six times per year; and
1-15           WHEREAS, More often than not, the adopted roads are cleaned
1-16     more than the minimum six times per year required by the agreement,
1-17     a clear indication of the high level of pride and enthusiasm that
1-18     citizens take in their part of Parker County; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Since its inception, more than 60 miles of country
1-20     roads in Parker County have been adopted by more than 30 groups,
1-21     including church and youth groups, civic organizations, businesses,
1-22     volunteer fire departments, and entire families; and
1-23           WHEREAS, In 1999, the Parker County adoption program for
1-24     country roads was recognized by the governor of Texas as the first
 2-1     of its kind in the state; the overwhelmingly positive response of
 2-2     the citizens of Parker County to the litter cleanup program
 2-3     warrants that this program be considered for statewide
 2-4     implementation on a voluntary basis; now, therefore, be it
 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-6     Legislature hereby encourage the commissioners court of each county
 2-7     to establish an Adopt-a-Country-Road program similar to the one in
 2-8     Parker County; and, be it further
 2-9           RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house of
2-10     representatives forward an official copy of this resolution to the
2-11     commissioners court of each Texas county.