AUBURN - The city's new summer cleanup program will need some retooling before next year, according to city officials.
Citizen participation and the amount of solid waste picked up did not live up to expectations, Public Works Superintendent Jerry DelFavero told city council Thursday. But he also gave a some tips on how the program could be more successful in the future.
DelFavero made his presentation on the cleanup during a work session meeting of the council. Planning Director Jennifer Haines also briefed councilors about aspects of the program.
In 11 Saturdays, public works crews picked up 87.4 tons of solid waste and removed 350 unnecessary city signs. The code enforcement department also issued hundreds of citations for external violations, according to Haines and DelFavero.
On a normal day, city crews can pick up 35 tons of trash and up to 15 tons of yard waste, DelFavero said. He added that the program cost $11,000 in labor and fuel.
“I really was shocked by the lack of participation,” he said. “I expected a lot more.”
Public works crews targeted a different neighborhood each Saturday for the cleanup, covering 11 sections in all. The crews were supposed to be on the street by 7 a.m. to pick up bundled and tied brush, bagged leaves, grass clippings and construction material left on the curb.
DelFavero suggest three different proposals that could make future cleanups more successful, each of which would divide the city into four corridors instead of 11.
The landfill could hold four Saturday events during which residents of each corridor may dump excess waste for no charge, he said. Or perhaps each of the four corridors can have a designated drop-off point where residents can bring their junk on a designated date, DelFavero said.
His final suggestion involved a four-week program that would only last through the month of May, as that is the time of year when a lot of residents are cleaning up their homes.
“Our best cleanups have been through neighborhood participation,” DelFavero said.
Councilor Thomas McNabb said during the meeting that many citizens did not understand the program. He received hundreds of calls over the summer from confused people, McNabb said.
Years ago, Auburn had an annual cleanup program in which the neighborhoods participated, he continued.
“The people were ready for it,” McNabb said.
City Manager Mark Palesh told councilors the program was needed, despite the low participation.
“We put the city on notice that we're serious about cleaning up our neighborhoods,” Palesh said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
DelFavero made his presentation on the cleanup during a work session meeting of the council. Planning Director Jennifer Haines also briefed councilors about aspects of the program.
In 11 Saturdays, public works crews picked up 87.4 tons of solid waste and removed 350 unnecessary city signs. The code enforcement department also issued hundreds of citations for external violations, according to Haines and DelFavero.
On a normal day, city crews can pick up 35 tons of trash and up to 15 tons of yard waste, DelFavero said. He added that the program cost $11,000 in labor and fuel.
“I really was shocked by the lack of participation,” he said. “I expected a lot more.”
Public works crews targeted a different neighborhood each Saturday for the cleanup, covering 11 sections in all. The crews were supposed to be on the street by 7 a.m. to pick up bundled and tied brush, bagged leaves, grass clippings and construction material left on the curb.
DelFavero suggest three different proposals that could make future cleanups more successful, each of which would divide the city into four corridors instead of 11.
The landfill could hold four Saturday events during which residents of each corridor may dump excess waste for no charge, he said. Or perhaps each of the four corridors can have a designated drop-off point where residents can bring their junk on a designated date, DelFavero said.
His final suggestion involved a four-week program that would only last through the month of May, as that is the time of year when a lot of residents are cleaning up their homes.
“Our best cleanups have been through neighborhood participation,” DelFavero said.
Councilor Thomas McNabb said during the meeting that many citizens did not understand the program. He received hundreds of calls over the summer from confused people, McNabb said.
Years ago, Auburn had an annual cleanup program in which the neighborhoods participated, he continued.
“The people were ready for it,” McNabb said.
City Manager Mark Palesh told councilors the program was needed, despite the low participation.
“We put the city on notice that we're serious about cleaning up our neighborhoods,” Palesh said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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nature lover wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:44 PM:
nature lover wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:34 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:32 AM:
Andy b wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:20 AM:
james_13021 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:16 AM:
Especially since the recycling and pick-up schedule got changed and most people are now getting up to speed with that change.
The city is trying to do too much, too soon! People are wondering if all these "Great" changes are worth the price of lost services that we have been witnessing! "
nature lover wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:24 AM:
stevedallas wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:29 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:44 AM: