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Council picks back up leaf pickup service
CANFIELD
City council has announced leaf pickup services are reinstated for the fall season this year.
According to a news release issued by the city, the decision to restore the service is a result of information gathered from residents at the June 15 town-hall meeting.
City officials and council members originally cut the nearly $80,000 service from the $11.3 million budget in March. It was one of several nonmandated activities cut from the budget, saving the city $800,000.
The cuts came as a response to a $1 million deficit the city faces from the loss all cities and townships are experiencing from cuts in state funding.
However, city Manager Joe Warino said some money was freed up because of the mild winter – allowing council to reconsider the hot-button topic residents expressed concern about.
Rather than renewing a contract normally used to aid in the pickup, city public-works employees will be picking up all the leaves.
“As long as the weather holds up and crews are allotted sufficient time for the removal of leaves, I am confident that our crews will continue to provide the same level of service as prior years,” Warino said.
So far, the leaf pickup cost $12,000 out of the general fund for equipment repair. The rest of the cost will be calculated after the workers have put in hours dedicated to leaf pickup.
Warino said council will be excited to announce when the pickup service will commence in the near future.
He added that city administration asks residents to rake or blow leaves up to and within three feet of the curb or edge of pavement – the equipment has a maximum reach of only 3 feet, 6 inches.