Early snows rake plans for leaf removal

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BY JOYCE RUSSELL
joycer@nwitimes.com
219.762.1397, ext. 2222 | Friday, December 05, 2008 | (8 comment(s))

PORTAGE | Early snows this fall have put leaf removal behind schedule.

But Portage Street Department Superintendent Chuck Haskell said crews are still working daily to pick up piles of fall foliage raked to the streets by homeowners.

"We are going to continue until we are done with them. Last year we went until May," said Haskell.

The first early November snow came just after trees had finished dropping their leaves. It caused Haskell's department to change its strategy to pick up leaves, he said.

Normally leaves are picked up on the same days as trash. However, when the snow came, it hit the east side of the city hardest, dropping more than 8 inches of the white stuff on leaf piles.

Department workers moved to the west side of the city where only an inch or 2 fell and concentrated on those areas. They are now moving toward the east.

A problem, Haskell said, is that many of the leaf piles are still snow covered and frozen. The department's leaf vacuums can be damaged if workers attempt to pick up frozen piles. Those are being skipped right now with the objective to come back and remove them when they defrost.

Another problem has been the changing over of equipment from leaf pick up to snow removal. The process of changing one truck takes about half a day, said Haskell.

Because of the demands on all three divisions of the department - streets, sanitation and recycling -- Haskell said he doesn't have the manpower to move people from one task to another without causing problems. For example, he said, if he moved people off trash pick up to man leaf vacuums, that would likely put the department behind in trash pickup.

Haskell said the city has 147 miles of streets on which leaves are picked up. Right now they are able to clear 10 to 15 miles per day.

"These guys are doing a heck of a job. They get no praise, just complaints. People need to be patient. We will perform the service," he said.

Haskell also asked that residents keep the leaves on their property and not in the streets because if the leaves are washed down the street by rain or pushed down by a snowplow, it can cause problems in stormwater drains.

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resignation of Olga wrote on Dec 7, 2008 10:43 PM:

" I think we should all be thankful that our street department does what it can with the leadership Olga gave it. We were better off with the last superintendent. Steve at least had the respect of the department. Respect equals more efficiency. "

Carmen Street wrote on Dec 5, 2008 3:28 PM:

" We can go ahead and rake all of the leaves into the road, they don't plow the snow on Carmen Street either! Keep up the GREAT WORK, Chuck and Olga!!!! "

Portage Resident wrote on Dec 5, 2008 12:46 PM:

" Different year, same story. What is it with Chuck and all of his excuses? Maybe the mayor should be looking for a replacement. I know if I only offered excuse after excuse for my job not getting done I wouldn't have a job. "

Hebron Paul wrote on Dec 5, 2008 12:34 PM:

" I emailed Hebron DEPT works This wee. we have had leaves sitting since before the election. They came got mine Tuesday and the neighbors. There is still a lot thme left on the street and the area. Lets hope they get them before spring. "

dead lawn boy wrote on Dec 5, 2008 9:17 AM:

" give me a break your late on leaves cuz of the snow,your just happy it snowed so you would have a way to get out of it.just like last year you guys did this with the leaves,my lawn looks so good with the dead spots in front,portage street dept you guys are lazy and sit in front of stores and talk and drink pop. "

excuses wrote on Dec 5, 2008 9:08 AM:

" if excuses were nickels, we could solve world hunger.. my leaves were on the curb for about a month before the snow and i had to re-rake them to the curb over and over.. but hey ...its your story, tell it like you want to.. "

City resident wrote on Dec 5, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Let's all give a hand to the street department & Sanitation guys and few gals that are there. Everyone always complains about them, but these people are out all day in what ever weather maybe thrown their way to service the city. It is truly not their fault your leaves are not picked up, they do as they are told. Thank you guys for the work you do! Happy Holidays! "

Carmen Street wrote on Dec 5, 2008 6:57 AM:

" Chuck and Olga must not have any friends or family living over on Carmen Street, because they haven't picked up our leaves in over SIX WEEKS! "

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