ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba Department of Public Works is helping citizens prepare for the cold-weather months.
There’s a chill in the air and leaves on the ground. For Public Works, those signs signal the start of fall leaf collection.
“If you can have your leaves to the curbline the night before your garbage day, we’ll make a pass through on your garbage day from now through Friday, November 20,” said Public Works Director Kent Dubord. “It is weather dependent. We could potentially run a little bit later if it doesn’t snow, or we could potentially shut it down sooner if we do get snow early.”
Regardless of how long collection lasts, the service will not be offered in the spring.
“If you pick up the leaves this time of year, then you’re not fighting a battle in the springtime of snow sitting on them all winter long and them being heavy and compacted,” Dubord explained.
Only leaves are being collected. Residents can take any other debris to the compost site at the Delta County Solid Waste Management Authority.
“Sometimes, people like to put a big pile of leaves along the curbline, but the longer the windrow, the quicker we can get through and move to the next residents,” said Dubord. “It’s also important to not park on top of the leaves and to allow enough clearance for trucks to get in and out to pick the leaves up.”
Looking ahead to winter, Public Works has also launched its annual “Shake Your Mailbox” initiative.
“It’s important to make sure your mailbox is sturdy this time of year,” Dubord said. “Just shake the post, and if anything gives on it, tighten those screws up and the bolts up to make sure that it doesn’t get clipped off this winter.”
According to Dubord, damage to mailboxes is usually not caused by a plow. Rather, damage is caused by the force of the snow being blown onto the mailbox. However, if a mailbox is hit by a plow, Public Works has policies in place to address that.
“Typically, we’ll come and bring a temporary mailbox out to get somebody by through the winter,” said Dubord. “If it is because of the weight of the snow, we don’t replace the mailbox. If it is because we did accidentally damage the mailbox, we will replace the mailbox.”
While local residents are ensuring their mailboxes can survive the winter and gathering their leaves for collection, Dubord says Public Works will be wrapping up some end-of-year projects before the snow flies.
“We’ll begin installing two playgrounds at West Side Park and at 18th Ave and 21st Street,” he said. “Two weeks from tomorrow, we will start preparation of assembling an ice rink in Ludington Park. Then, we have a ton of other projects going on as we transition into the fall and into the winter season ahead.”
Anyone with questions about leaf collection or mailboxes can call Public Works at (906) 786-1842.
