And The Leaves Come A Tumbling Down

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It’s fall again!  With the cooler nights and shorter days the leaves turn their spectacular colors and then fall to the ground. Unfortunately, once on the ground they become a potential problem.  Leaves can clog storm drains which can cause flooding and property damage.  In 1985, the City began a street leaf pick up program to prevent plugged storm drains and to help provide an alternative to backyard burning. The program runs from late October through early January.  The schedule is subject to weather and equipment conditions and will be adjusted accordingly in the event of an early frost or windstorm.

For scheduling purposes, the City is sectioned off and assigned an area number.  There are six areas, or sections, used to identify locations throughout the City. Crews will begin picking up leaves in one area, such as area 1 for example, spending approximately 3 to 4 days to encompass the entire area, and then move right into area 2 and continue through all six areas, until they cover the entire City. The pickup crew is on a very tight schedule and will make one complete pass per area before moving to the next area. Crews will return to each area about a month later for the next scheduled pick up date for a total of three pickups.  If you miss the pick up in your area, please do not put the leaves in the street until the next scheduled put out date.  Leaves put out right after a pick up will remain in the street creating safety and flooding issues for nearly a month until the pickup crew returns after the next put out date.  

The City asks residents to please rake leaves approximately two feet from the curb and away from parked cars.  This will allow rainwater to run freely to the storm drains and prevent the drains from being clogged with leaves.  Make sure only leaves are piled in the street.  Grass clippings and other yard debris will not be picked up.  Please follow the schedule as closely as possible by making every effort to put the leaves out on your assigned day so they don’t remain in the street any longer than necessary posing a danger to traffic and pedestrians.  Remember, crews make one complete pass through the City before returning to your area.  Please do not blow leaves into the middle of the street.  Leaves blown into the street are spread too thin and too wide to be picked up by the vacuum.  Do not put leaves in bags.  City Crews will not pick up bagged leaves.

The City would like to remind residents that the street leaf pick up program is intended for leaves that fall from the trees in the street right-of-way.  The pick up program is not intended for leaves that fall from trees in private yards and backyards.  Residents are provided a green roller cart from Waste Management for yard leaves and clippings that is picked up on a weekly basis.   

The City wishes to acknowledge the Public Works Department for their 26 years of commitment to the leaf pick up program.  The City also wishes to thank citizens for their efforts in keeping storm drains unplugged and for their support and participation in the curbside yard debris program.  Residents were mailed the leaf pick up schedule with their October utility bills.  If you did not receive a schedule or have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 503-992-3258.