Gutters and curbs 5 days after final city leaf pick-up. Photo is fairly representative of most streets in the area. “Left-overs” will end up in the storm sewer system because street-sweeper machines no longer follow the final pick-up? [photo]
Virginia near Liberty
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Sunset Rd. is a mess, with large piles still in the street, probably to stay through the winter.
But… hey! We got a million bucks to blow on an ugly sculpture for the pricey new city hall for King John and his minions! Priorities, folks… priorities!
The second round of leaf pick up is just starting — a little late (it was supposed to begin on the 23rd) but not too far off schedule. With luck from the weather gods, those leaves should be picked up before the snow.
I’m in Zone 1; the trucks picked up my leaves this morning before 7 am.
Thanks, Sabra – - but photo was after our second/FINAL leaf pick-up. Situation has been same for past number of years. Before that the city street sweeping machines would immediately follow to get all the remaining debris – - which is fairly substantial. But now, for example, our first street sweeping after the fall/2008 leaf pick-up wasn’t until JULY,2009 – - after which most of the leaf debris had either been washed into the sewers by snow melt or rain – - or still sat in the street in muddy,dirty lumps. I called the city early this spring to ask about this – - received a very nice and detailed reply which essentially translated to ” don’t expect the street sweepers anytime soon or more than once a year “. So,OK,if we need to accept this as part of the overall reductions in street/park/tree maintenance – - seems like it would be prudent for the annual street-sweeping to immediately follow final leaf pick-ups. Some extra/temporary manpower would be well worth the effort to get this done within the ample number of temperature-appropriate days available.This would keep massive amounts of leaves out of the sewer, and keep our streets from looking so dirty for much of the year.
Sue, you might pursue this with the city from a “our street’s storm drains are blocked” approach. That might have a higher priority.
[link to city of Ann Arbor website page]
Cosmonican, Sunset Road hasn’t had its second pickup yet. According to the city site, they are a day or two behind at the moment. The section east of Brooks was supposed to be done yesterday, but they are working on that area today and Friday. The stretch west of Brooks is in Area 2, and doesn’t picked up until Dec. 1 at the earliest.
[Leaf collection schedule updates]
Thanks for the corrections, looking forward to a bare street. I wrote too soon, guess I can’t get my head around the idea that Area 1 is on both sides of the river.
Rob, the public art is funded completely different than street cleaning. Check out the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission website for more info on that.
Personally, I’m excited to see this piece. It’s being designed by a world recognized artist. It should be quite spectacular.
As the city gets crunched on funds, perhaps the best thing for us all to do, is to chip in a little and help. I clear out the leaves from the storm drain in front of my house several times a year. It takes nothing. I also sweep the curb area when I have some time. It’s the area in front of my home and I figure it’s a little bit my responsibility too.