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.