MUSKOGEE COUNTY - It's a problem all over Green Country- people tossing out their trash into fields, on the side of the road. Or even worse - into our creeks, rivers, and streams.
In a story you only saw on 2 Works For You, Muskogee County is doing everything they can to stop illegal dumping.
"This is a bigger problem than what meets the eye and we are dedicated starting right now," said Kenny Payne, Muskogee County Commissioner.
Trash is piling up and it's not happening at the landfill.
Just in Muskogee County, the sheriff's office is working from the county line to the city limits to clean up illegal dump sites.
It didn't take long to find our first dump site near Taft.
"This problem probably costs our county when you add it all up $200,000 a year," said Payne.
Some of the roads less traveled in Muskogee County are prime targets for illegal dumping. There's only one deputy charged with enforcing illegal dumping laws. Now they're about to get a helping hand.
"We're going to up the ante a little bit, so now with this grant," said Muskogee County Sheriff Rob Frazier, "we're going to investigate. We're going to write citations. We're going to try to prosecute people. We're going to try to put people in jail for all this illegal dumping.
"These guys that come do this. They're lazy. They don't care about their county. They don't care what they do and we're going to come after you."
Officials say the fine has doubled to a thousand dollars for illegal dumping.
The new investigator starts next month.
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