| Author |
Message |
    
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11263
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 4:04 pm: | 
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We had three leaf collections scheduled. They performed the first one and missed the other two. Now the leaves are mixed in with the snow. What happens next?
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aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 612
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 4:43 pm: |
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Snow collections?
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mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 275
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 4:56 pm: |
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It's over, Tom. First snow means leaf collection is cancelled and the DPW puts away it's machines. Donut time at the DPW.
But in their defense, they did a great job on the streets. Better than Millburn. So there, Millburn! |
bdk
Citizen
Username: Bdk23
Post Number: 10
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 5:07 pm: |
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so what happens to all these leaves on the street? |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 2904
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 5:49 pm: |
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There were some trucks/equipment on my street this morning that appeared to be pushing the snow/leaf piles the same way that they usually do for the leaves in advance of the truck that comes around to actually take the leaves away. I forgot to look (before it got dark) to see if anything happened to the bigger pile they made, but I thought it might mean that they were still going to do something with the leaves (albeit mixed in with snow ... maybe that moisture could help the composting?) |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 422
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 9:44 pm: |
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The DPW didn't skip any scheduled pick ups before the snow, and they did not put the leaf equipment away. They are still out picking up leaves, it may be at a slower pace because we are down a few trucks (they were converted to salt spreaders) but we will be picking up any and all piles of leaves in the roadways.
Eric |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11307
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 9:48 pm: |
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When you say "didn't skip" you mean you plan to catch up, right? Just trying to understand you. And thank you very much for all you do!
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eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 424
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 6:51 am: |
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Tom,
We picked up leaves on your street in the weeks of Nov. 07, Nov. 21, and I believe they just picked up on your street yesterday or the day before. Once the first snow comes (and sticks around)the schedule is pretty much out the window.
And thank you for appreciating what the DPW guys do.
Eric |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 498
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 7:50 am: |
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Tom,
Assuming the snow eventually melts, you can just run your mower over the leaves a few times. They'll disappear; it's also very healthy for your lawn.
And I agree - hats off to Eric and his leafing team. They do a great job, under very difficult circumstances. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11366
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 9:54 am: |
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You should be proud of me, Ligeti. My lawn mower is the mechanical push type. One downside of it, however, is that it won't mulch (is that the right word?) leaves.
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Scully
Citizen
Username: Scully
Post Number: 86
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 10:07 am: |
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My tree hasn't finished dropping leaves yet so I'm in the same boat. And I've also got a push mower.
I'm thinking maybe compost? My maple (a hulking four stories) does this every year... |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1766
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 1:50 pm: |
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I've often still had leaves when the last leaf collection is over - my trees, for whatever reason, tend to stay green longer & hold onto their leaves longer than most other trees in town.
And like Tom & Scully, I have a push mower. Won't cut up the leaves.
I've composted them in a pile in my back yard - unused area between my garage and my neighbor's garage. I've also occasionally put some of them into my yard waste trash buckets and waited until the spring clean-up season to get rid of them. I know - you're not supposed to put leaves in there - but they've always taken them. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6774
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 4:51 pm: |
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According to the way I read Eric's post, you can still rake your leaves into the street and the town will still pick them up, just not on any set schedule. Eric please correct me if I am wrong.
When I am down to my last smattering of leaves, I usually rake them into the flower beds. They make a fine protective covering over the winter. |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 506
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 6:11 pm: |
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They also provide refuge for rodents, Joan. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6331
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 6:19 pm: |
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So, what happens if you don't rake? My lawn is covered. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6778
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, December 17, 2005 - 8:53 am: |
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The grass could get smothered and die. However, when we moved into our house in February many years ago, the property was absolutely covered with leaves (front and back) since the people we bought the house from hadn't bothered to rake that year and we didn't know enough to demand that they do so before closing. The grass was still there in the spring.
Ligetti:
Leaves provide a refuge for rodents if you pile them on but not if you place a THIN layer just a few leaves deap on the flower beds. The idea is to help insulate the roots over the winter, not to smother the plants. |
Cchaps
Citizen
Username: Cchaps
Post Number: 9
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 17, 2005 - 11:48 pm: |
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I was going to rake out last weekend, but the snow beat me to the punch (I'm in Zone 8). Can I still rake leaves out into the street for pick-up? |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 425
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 12:27 pm: |
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Unfortunately you can no longer put your leaves out it the street. The problem with putting your leaves out at this time of the year is the snow, and the cold weather causes the leaves to freeze to the roadway making it impossible for us to collect them. The ice and leaves make for a dangerous road condition.
I suggest you rake them and make a compost pile, or rake them and put them in your barrels until the spring rake out collection. We do pick up leaves and branches in the spring. The braches must be tied and no longer than 4 feet long, the leaves must be put in to containers. We apologize if this causes any inconvenience for you but we can’t control Mother Nature.
Eric
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6799
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 3:40 pm: |
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Eric:
What should we do with leaves which are already in the street, became covered with snow and are now blowing downhill to the point where they are blocking sewer drains?
Is there any way these leaves can be picked up by the town? |
Mark
Citizen
Username: Mark54
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 8:16 pm: |
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My leaves are piled in the street and have been since December 4th. They are happy there ... |
Agon
Citizen
Username: Agon
Post Number: 5
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 9:39 pm: |
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I thought there was a scheduled pickup in Zone 10 for the week of Dec. 19? |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1505
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 9:59 pm: |
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We took our leaves back and made a second compost pile - with the mild weather and the leaves wet from the snow it takes about an hour with a rake some elbow grease.
You can't predict the weather, it is what it is.
Think Spring and good tilth. |
mimosa
Citizen
Username: Mimosa
Post Number: 204
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 10:19 pm: |
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The snow is gone from the street I live on. The leaf pile in the back yard was raked out today for our Dec. 19 week of scheduled pick up. I've never seen it stated in the leaflet that leaf pick up would be cancelled due to snow. Will we get a ticket? |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 508
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 6:17 am: |
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The snow is gone, so I raked furiously yesterday to get the leaves into the street in time for the pickup listed in the town flyer for 12/19.
What are we supposed to do now? There's a HUGE pile of leaves in the street. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6346
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 7:58 am: |
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I just noticed on the schedule that zones 9 & 10 get an extra pick-up; one more than the rest of us. Now, why is that again? Of course, I realize that this is theoretical, since they are not getting the extra pick-up.
I just don't get it. Lydia, I agree that you can't help the weather, but the rest of us had to adjust. Why couldn't DPW? |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 2939
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 8:10 am: |
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At some point Eric (or someone with reason to know) posted that the area with the extra pickup has more trees and/or heavier leaf fall historically and the pickups were scheduled that way to meet that need.
It does seem to me that leaves could now be picked up and there is clearly still a need throughout the township, this being an atypical season. Of course, it does cost something, but if we have trucks and public works employees on the rolls, can't they work in one more pickup over the next few weeks, assuming the weather holds? What other work is going on or scheduled at this time of year that would have to be delayed to do this? (In the end, I think that this is most of the cost, rather than a separate bottom-line cost, to do this.) |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6348
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 10:57 am: |
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Sac- I agree. Not to take anything away from the job the guys do, but logic says that it shouldn't really even be an extra cost.
After all, the reason leaves are falling late is because they didn't fall at the usual time. A modicum of common sense would have had the Powers That Be looking out the window in Novermber, saying "Hey, the leaves are still green. Maybe we should send out notices that we are going to shift the leaf pick up schedule back a couple weeks".
What were these guys picking up the first couple pick-ups? Twigs? There was nothing to rake out for the first pick up. It would indeed behoove the Township to do one last sweep of the area before winter really sets in. As has been mentioned, big leaf piles become rodent huts. And not everyone has a place to compost. I puty as many leaves as I could into the flower beds and still had plenty left over. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1492
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:51 am: |
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My zone never got the third scheduled pick-up due to the Dec 3rd/4th snow storm and following storm.
To me that says that the town still owes my zone one more pick-up. I also agree that in theory there should be no "extra cost" since we were scheduled for 3 pick-ups and have only had 2. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 427
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 1:14 pm: |
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I spoke with Gary Lenc this morning and we decided on the following. The leaves will be picked up in the scheduled sections this week. If there are leaves in the streets that were missed they will also be picked up, however, you can no longer put leaves out in those sections.
The street sweeper is out and will be doing every street shortly. Please give us time to get to your street with the sweeper.
Reminder: If you use a landscaper he is to bring the leaves to the DPW yard as of December 1st, as per township ordinance. |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 516
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 2:09 pm: |
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Eric: you are THE BEST. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1495
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 2:23 pm: |
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Why can you no longer put leaves out where all pick-ups were not made? |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 840
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 4:15 pm: |
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Why can't homeowners bring any remaining leaves down to the DPW yard?
TomR |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 428
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 6:58 pm: |
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TomR, We are going to let the homeowners bring the leaves to the Recycling Center if they are in the bio-degradable bags. This is a one time deal only! Next year this will not be permitted. We understand the problem with the weather and we are trying to do what we can to make life easier for everyone.
Johnny, because everyone will say that there pile was there and we missed it and this will go on for months. You would not believe how many people call us after we pick up a street and say "you picked everyone's leave up but mine, you went right around the pile."
I hope this helps.
Eric |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6801
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 7:39 pm: |
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Thanks Eric. |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 841
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 10:22 pm: |
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Eric,
Thanks for the information.
When will the leaf drop off start? Will homeowners be permitted to bring their leaves, in non-biodegradable bags, empty the bags, and take their non-biodegradable bags home with them? (I really don't want to transfer the leaves from one set of bags to another).
BTW, I think you guys do a good job with the leaves, the snow and your work in general. Things don't go as expected sometimes, but that happens everywhere.
Thanks again.
TomR |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 429
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 2:51 pm: |
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Yes you can bring the leaves in in plastic bags but you MUST empty and take the plastic bags back with you. You can also empty your containers if that is what you have them in.
You can bring them in now. 359 Boyden Ave. When you pull in to the yard you will see where the leaves are piled in the lot next to the exit. We ask that you use caution when dumping in this area due to the number of trucks coming in and out of the yard.
Eric |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 843
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 12:17 am: |
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Eric,
Thanks for the additional information.
TomR |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1471
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 8:44 am: |
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Eric, great job on the last snow removal but crappy job on snow storm timing. If the DPW had any real clout they would make sure that snow does not start falling until after the leaf collection schedule has been completed. I would appreciate it if you'd make sure this doesn't happen next year. If you'd like me to call Gary directly I will. I'm sure he has some clout with the big guy. No, not Fred.
PS I'm just going to put my leaves in plastic milk containers and bring them to DPW, k? |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 523
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:02 am: |
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Only in Maplewood do we have DPW employees like Eric who, in his off hours, logs on to MOL, reads complaints, then goes to work and puts a plan to remedy the situation into action.
Not everyone has the same experience, but my considerable pile of leaves in Zone 10 (raked manually, low-tech, by a real virile sports man, no motorized blower needed) was picked up yesterday as promised.
I love Maplewood. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1503
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:26 am: |
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Still no pick up in my zone. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 430
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:57 am: |
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Johnny,
They will get there if there are piles there.
Jeffl, Bad timing? We had the snow come down during regular working hours so there wasn't too much overtime money spent. Gary and mother nature aren't on speaking terms anymore. Sorry.
Thanks for the compliments we appreciate them.
Eric |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6382
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 10:58 am: |
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Eric- I think that Jeff was teasing.
I hate to be an idiot, but a couple more questions:
1. Are you doing one last sweep of the town, regardless of zone? I only ask because I wasn't sure how to interpret the Streetsweeper post or your response to Johnny.
2. Can we still bring our own leaves in next week? The holiday makes it difficult to do this weekend. I posted a "Please Help" for someone to make a little money bagging my leaves & bringing them over, but got no help. So, I can't do it until next week.
Thanks. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 431
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 1:11 pm: |
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I know Jeff was teasing as was I. We will picking up piles in sections that we missed due to the snow. (weather permitting)
1) The street sweeper can not pick up piles and can not go out if it is below the freezing mark.
2) Yes you can still bring them down next week. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 433
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 1:42 pm: |
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I know Jeff was teasing as was I. We will picking up piles in sections that we missed due to the snow. (weather permitting)
1) The street sweeper can not pick up piles and can not go out if it is below the freezing mark.
2) Yes you can still bring them down next week. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1506
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2005 - 8:54 am: |
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Well, we have piles and no pick-up. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6418
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 10:54 am: |
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Eric - I don't know what happened, but their was a leaf pick up of the random piles left on our street this morning.
Thanks! You saved me & some of my neighbors a boat-load of work.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11549
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 10:56 am: |
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I was gonna say the same thing! What a welcome surprise. I waved to drivers of both trucks, and they waved back. Sometimes, this really is like living on the Andy Griffith show.
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sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 2952
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 1:57 pm: |
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Yep, they did our street also. I just wish I'd known it was going to happen as there are loads of leaves in my yard (that weren't off the trees as of the last pickup) and I would love to have had them picked up. |
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