Spruce up those yards, Hoquiam. The City Council is bringing back its yard of the month program.

Ward 1 Councilman Paul McMillan brought the idea of the council at the June 8 meeting.

“We used to have a yard of the month, and each ward would pick which yard we thought (deserved the honor),” he said.

As approved by the council Monday, the two council members from each ward will work together, scouting out yards within their wards and coordinating on which gets honored. The property chosen will get bragging rights for a month, with a sign from the city the property owner can display.

McMillan said there was some discussion about turning the program over to the Hoquiam Beautification Committee, which is out and about planting and tending to the flower baskets and landscaping within the city, but council members decided it would be best for they themselves to select the yards.

“We thought it was a good idea for us, as members, to get into our wards and talk to people” about not just their yards, but their thoughts on the city, said McMillan, who added it also encourages communication between council members within the same ward.