Checking to see who takes care of the containers for the smokers. City of Marshall maintains the ramp and mows the grass but it seems that the Hospital is responsible for these. Simply having the top off two of the containers does not warrant a citation to be issued.

Forget the citation...lets just have whoever is responsible for that area get the mess cleaned up and keep it that way. The smell from that stagnant tobacco filled open container is unacceptable and will only get worse as the temperatures rise! It is also an eyesore for pedestrians and especially visitors to our community.

Covers have been replaced. Hospital maintenance has been contacted and advised of the issue. They will keep a closer eye on the situation as it seems to be an ongoing thing that people remove the covers.

Thanks for fixing this issue!

Well, that was fun! And at the end of the day, NOTHING HAS CHANGED OR IMPROVED (see photos)...so I have to rescind my "thank you" for a job well done. It seems to me that if we have a noxious weed ordinance...then there no reason that we shouldn't also have a noxious Cigarette Receptacle/Smokers Station/Butt Can ordinance too? All Oaklawn has to do is clean up the mess, then secure the lids to the bottoms and the problem is solved! No, No, No, they don't need those giant Wells Fargo type locks. All they need are zip ties...you know, the kind that cost $2.00 per thousand on eBay. When the buckets need cleaning you simply cut the zip ties and put a new one on when the job is done. Let me know who it was that you spoke with at Oaklawn...believe me when I say that this issue will go away long before I will! Just sayin...

P.S. The covers were never replaced!

Hey Tim. NADA!!!
Check out the bucket in the photo that was taken this evening, it has a hole in it...the butts are coming out of the bottom! Has all of the makings for a good Hank Williams song?
This is the end of the second day and STILL NOTHING!!!
Funny that Oaklawn would ban smoking on their property, thus forcing everyone including their own employees, to gather on public property across the street to do their dirty business and then Oaklawn does nothing to address the problem that they caused. Did Oaklawn supply the Cigarette Receptacle/Smokers Station/Butt Cans?
Maybe we should uncover ALL of the towers up and down Michigan Avenue too...just think of the added ambiance downtown for out of town visitors? From the Coach to the Copper, Mikes and beyond.
I would be disappointed if you can't make something happen...but letters to the editor, bringing this matter up at the next Council meeting, contacting the I-Team from News Channel 3, crap, maybe even a call to Geraldo...the options are endless. All of those can surely be avoided by contacting somebody at Oaklawn that oversees the maintenance department, i.e., Montrose, Beck or Williams.

Clearly after Tim replaced the tops on those two on the North side of the parking ramp on Monday somebody removed them again. I spoke with the head of maintenance at the hospital this morning and his maintenance workers have seen people remove the tops then remove cigarette butts and actually smoke them. They have been replacing these with lockable stands and he will have his guys change these as soon as they get a chance.

If you compare the photos when this first became an issue, to the end of the first day as well as the second...those lids are in EXACTLY the same spot. Nobody could remove them again and place them in exactly the same location and direction! Those photos have not been altered and tell a true story. I travel past that location everyday and will be watching for some progress. Another more permanent solution would be for Oaklawn to provide a "Smokers Area" across Prospect St, behind the ER and then the mess in from of the parking structure would be eliminated! Just sayin...

Thanks Mike, Nice to see that Oaklawn has completely removed those older Cigarette Receptacle/Smokers Station/Butt Cans and policed the surrounding area. Just that alone is an amazing improvement!

Upon closer inspection, the fine Oaklawn maintenance crew did in fact remove the buckets. However, at both locations, they left piles of cigarette butts in the vegetation! Clearly would take an extra 30 seconds of their time to clean this area to an acceptable level. Certainly hope that this same crew has nothing to do with cleaning and maintaining the interior of Oaklawn!