We were pleased to learn the Baldwin County Commission threw its support to the launch of an area Keep America Beautiful affiliate earlier this week with an endorsement, and two weeks since tabling a vote, city council is set to re-examine the program Tuesday.

We certainly hope all of the questions and concerns council members had in their previous discussion about the program will be answered during their upcoming work session, and that their endorsement of a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate will soon follow.

Earlier this month, Milledgeville City Council delayed a vote on a resolution supporting a local KAB program, based in part on concerns regarding organizational structure and long-term costs for the city.

It is our understanding that support by the city and county governments is the last step necessary toward processing an application for the creation of a local affiliate program. Now that city leaders have taken more time to explore the program, we hope everyone will see its value to our community.

Both the county and city have already allotted funds in both the fiscal year 2008 and 2009 budgets to support a local KAB affiliate.

It has been noted, however, that the City of Milledgeville will be the administrator of the program, and therefore carry most of the burden of facilitating the program.

If city officials need more information about the program before making their final decision, then the information to answer their questions and concerns should be obtained during Tuesday’s work session in an effort to avoid further delay.

The KAB organization already supports beautification projects and litter prevention programs such as the Great American Cleanup in 67 other communities throughout Georgia. Many residents and elected officials have in the past expressed their concerns about our area's increasing litter problem. With our area growing as a tourist attraction, garnering greater attention from outsiders and other communities, is that really what we want others to see from our roadways?

We think everyone will agree that KAB is a sound program that will help foster a worthwhile anti-litter campaign to help curb the problem.

We certainly hope that before council's next meeting, the necessary information to answer any concerns about the program will be provided.

This is our opportunity to act at the grassroots level to help beautify our community. As we've noted before, we cannot as a community expect others to protect what we have if we show little or no interest in doing so ourselves. Milledgeville and Baldwin County have far too much to offer to let our natural landscape suffer unnecessarily.

It is up to us to act to protect what we have, not only for the present time, but also to maintain it for future generations. Keeping our area beautiful should not only matter to city and county officials, it should matter to us all.

Our community and our natural wonders are too precious to go without adequate protection. This viable program will help to ensure a clean Milledgeville and Baldwin County for our children.