2018 Leaf Collection

[Meg Ostrowski]

In the past, city crews including workers on foot with backpack style leaf blowers used to arrive on our block each fall to blow accumulated leaves from tree lawns to the center of the street. This was followed by a front loader moving them along to a larger vehicle for vacuuming/hauling away. This effort usually left us with a fresh lawn ready for the next batch.

Today we were visited by a single worker operating a vacuum truck. Here is the result.

Missed Leaves.JPG (1.22 MiB) Viewed 3768 times

Rather than get down on the city for this change in service, I considered the cost savings that hopefully comes with it. And I wondered what my neighbors and I could have done differently to improve the outcome.

After visiting http://www.onelakewood.com/leaf-collect ... ember-5th/, I learned that “All leaves must be raked to a point no further than 6-feet from the curb for the vacuum tube to reach for collection.” Unfortunately, I must have missed the communication on this but will be sure to get it right for the next pick up.

Notice that it is not enough to just get them within six feet of the curb because shallow piles (even within range) may be passed over.

Leaf Collection.JPG (861.31 KiB) Viewed 3768 times

[Amy Martin]

We have several neighbors who pile their leaves onto the street on a yearly basis. I know that this is against code, but nothing is done about it. Most of the houses on my street have basement water issues, so I get especially frosted because by doing this, our storm drains are compromised. I wish that the city would start enforcing this code.

On another note - please be careful when parking your car on a street that is scheduled for leaf removal. I had my 94 Camaro damaged 5 years ago by the front loader. Despite the accident investigator actually lining up the front loader to the damage on my car, the City crew denied responsibility, even saying that they WERE NOT on the street on the day in question. This, despite evidence by the City's log book that they were. Since all that it took was their denial, the prosecutor would not file charges against the city. I had to pay for the repairs out of my own pocket since the damage was more than the blue book value of my car.

[pj bennett]

Meg: I've been dealing with the vacuum truck for several years. I'm not particularly impressed. For one thing, it breaks down fairly frequently, and the broken part is never readily available. It has to be ordered. Meanwhile, the leaves scatter. My tree lawn looks much like hours after a vacuum.

However, I have observed, that tree lawns on the side streets north of Lake, get an impeccable cleanup. I've watched that snorkel nose of a vacuum suck up every last leaf. Maybe the time spent there, needs to be made up on the streets south of Lake.

This past Saturday, I watched as the guys with leaf blowers cleared off the curb half of the tree lawns on Clifton. Later, I watched them blow ALL the leaves from the entire tree lawn, all along Lake Ave.

Amy: Years ago, the owner of a body shop told me that the City of Lakewood always denies financial responsibility, if one of its vehicles causes vehicular damage. It doesn't matter if your car is moving, stopped or parked. It doesn't matter if someone is in the car, or if it's empty. It is never the city's fault. Even if, there is no doubt that the city driver caused the accident, the city never takes responsibility to make things right.

The body shop guy told me to always keep as far away as possible, from city vehicles. That's pretty impossible to do, but I do my best.

[cmager]

Meg: I've been dealing with the vacuum truck for several years. I'm not particularly impressed. For one thing, it breaks down fairly frequently, and the broken part is never readily available. It has to be ordered. Meanwhile, the leaves scatter. My tree lawn looks much like hours after a vacuum.

However, I have observed, that tree lawns on the side streets north of Lake, get an impeccable cleanup. I've watched that snorkel nose of a vacuum suck up every last leaf. Maybe the time spent there, needs to be made up on the streets south of Lake.

This past Saturday, I watched as the guys with leaf blowers cleared off the curb half of the tree lawns on Clifton. Later, I watched them blow ALL the leaves from the entire tree lawn, all along Lake Ave.

Calling all photographers and videographers!

[pj bennett]

Calling all photographers and videographers!

Yes! Timing was bad for me this past Saturday to take a snapshot. I was upstairs when the workers appeared on my tree lawn (Clifton), and they were moving rather quickly.

It was on the return trip from breakfast, that I saw them standing on the sidewalk (on Lake Ave.) and blowing all the leaves towards the curb.
Again, no camera. (I don't have a smart phone w/camera.)

Several years ago, I took pictures of my side tree lawn and took them to city hall. Joe Beno looked very annoyed, when I showed them to him.
Annoyed at me for 'wasting his time'.

He told me, that if he had his way, that he'd have nothing but vacuum trucks all over Lakewood and do away with the workers (leaf blowers) and trash truck that carries away the leaves.

To which I replied, "So you're looking to do away with people's jobs, and lay them off?"

Well, he glared at me. And, I glared back.

[Meg Ostrowski]

UPDATE:

Good news!

I was fully expecting to have to bag the remaining leaves for this week's trash pick up, but instead it looks like the city crews visited our neighborhood today! The tree lawns are spotless for blocks around. Perhaps the vacuum truck that was here on Saturday was just getting a jump start on the short holiday week?

Thank you City of Lakewood! Hope to see you again before snowfall.

He told me, that if he had his way, that he'd have nothing but vacuum trucks all over Lakewood and do away with the workers (leaf blowers) and trash truck that carries away the leaves.

PJ, I certainly hope things don't come to this.

[pj bennett]

The crews are already smaller than they were some years ago.
The day is coming, when Joe Beno's wish will come true.

I thought it interesting, that leaf collection began before 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.
It appears that the noise ordinance does not apply to the city.

[Meg Ostrowski]

I thought it interesting, that leaf collection began before 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.
It appears that the noise ordinance does not apply to the city.

In recent weeks, we have had trash/recycling pick up begin as early as 6:10 a.m. and always before 7:00 a.m.

But today, I am grateful for leaf collection and clean up