Youve just spent four hours raking, blowing or shoveling those pesky leaves to your curb during this nice stretch of sunny, pleasant southwestern Wisconsin weather.
And, the next day the Monroe Street Department leaf truck comes by and picks them up, and you might ask yourself, where do they take all those tons of dead foliage?
Well, starting the second week in October, Street Department workers comb Monroe picking up leaves set near curbs in front of the citys homes, said Tom Boll Street Department supervisor.
Once collected, leaves make a journey through the citys yard waste drop off site on the far east side of town. There, the leaves are ground up along with other brush and given back to city residents as mulch, he said.
The city spent about $74,000 for leaf collection in 2008. The costs included labor, fuel and equipment.
The 2010 city budget should not impact the leaf pickup process, unlike the free bulky waste pickup day, which was eliminated in last years budget to save money, because the leaf pickup is paid for through the citys stormwater utility, Boll said.
We should be able to keep it going, he said.
Boll did not know off hand how much it costs to pick up the citys leaves each fall.
The recently beautiful weather has allowed many more people to get out of the house and clean the leaves off their yards, Boll said, which has led some to wonder why the Street Department isnt coming around to pick up all the leaves.
Most of the trees in town seem to have lost their leaves at the same time, and because so many residents are moving leaves to the curbs seemingly all at once, the city cant get to the homes fast enough, Boll said.
People have been going crazy wondering where we are, he said, with a laugh.
Normally, the city will pick up leaves until the first significant snowfall of the season, Boll said.
The Street Department does try to get through the city once each week.
Leaf pick is free, but if leaves are contained in clear plastic bags, there is $2 fee and you must have a sticker from the city before the Street Department will pick them up.
The department also offers a free waste drop off day at the Street Department building one Saturday a month, which the Boy Scouts help out with, Boll said.
So, the next time you wonder where all those leaves go, just look at your neighbors garden or perhaps even beneath your feet. They might just be the fertilizer used to make your plants grow faster.
For more information on the program, or rates for bulky waste pickup, check out the City of Monroes Web site, www.cityofmonroe.org.
Green County Farmhouse Project
Please continue to send farmhouse pictures so I can get this thing up and running. Dont forget, pictures must be simple snap shots of a farmhouse in Green County taken from directly in front of the home, no people or barns please. The only information I ask is for the name of the street, if you wish, but more importantly the name of the town or city the farm is located in. Please e-mail your photos to newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
Take care and watch out for bicycles.
And, the next day the Monroe Street Department leaf truck comes by and picks them up, and you might ask yourself, where do they take all those tons of dead foliage?
Well, starting the second week in October, Street Department workers comb Monroe picking up leaves set near curbs in front of the citys homes, said Tom Boll Street Department supervisor.
Once collected, leaves make a journey through the citys yard waste drop off site on the far east side of town. There, the leaves are ground up along with other brush and given back to city residents as mulch, he said.
The city spent about $74,000 for leaf collection in 2008. The costs included labor, fuel and equipment.
The 2010 city budget should not impact the leaf pickup process, unlike the free bulky waste pickup day, which was eliminated in last years budget to save money, because the leaf pickup is paid for through the citys stormwater utility, Boll said.
We should be able to keep it going, he said.
Boll did not know off hand how much it costs to pick up the citys leaves each fall.
The recently beautiful weather has allowed many more people to get out of the house and clean the leaves off their yards, Boll said, which has led some to wonder why the Street Department isnt coming around to pick up all the leaves.
Most of the trees in town seem to have lost their leaves at the same time, and because so many residents are moving leaves to the curbs seemingly all at once, the city cant get to the homes fast enough, Boll said.
People have been going crazy wondering where we are, he said, with a laugh.
Normally, the city will pick up leaves until the first significant snowfall of the season, Boll said.
The Street Department does try to get through the city once each week.
Leaf pick is free, but if leaves are contained in clear plastic bags, there is $2 fee and you must have a sticker from the city before the Street Department will pick them up.
The department also offers a free waste drop off day at the Street Department building one Saturday a month, which the Boy Scouts help out with, Boll said.
So, the next time you wonder where all those leaves go, just look at your neighbors garden or perhaps even beneath your feet. They might just be the fertilizer used to make your plants grow faster.
For more information on the program, or rates for bulky waste pickup, check out the City of Monroes Web site, www.cityofmonroe.org.
Green County Farmhouse Project
Please continue to send farmhouse pictures so I can get this thing up and running. Dont forget, pictures must be simple snap shots of a farmhouse in Green County taken from directly in front of the home, no people or barns please. The only information I ask is for the name of the street, if you wish, but more importantly the name of the town or city the farm is located in. Please e-mail your photos to newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
Take care and watch out for bicycles.
