Many citizens have complained about notifications from the city being left on their doors in reference to leaves being placed on their curbside.
But Mayor Diane Delaware wants the public to know the notification are not citations but merely warnings to adhere to the city’s leaf ordinance.
“Citizens have contacted me, and I have told them that we are putting these warnings out,” Delaware said, during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting. “We are putting these warnings out several times before we will take any action at all.”
The city ordinance states that “it shall be unlawful for any person in the city to place, cause, permit or allow any trees, limbs, shrubs, dirt, trash, paper, grass or other waste matter or material to be placed upon any paved or improved portion of any street, sidewalk or alley or in any ditch, gutter or drainage system of the city.”
The city council recently warned the public that not placing leaves in bags will be addressed with warnings and possible tickets in an effort to deter flooding.
“I know that everybody won’t comply with the ordinance, but my thing is to not push your leaves in the gutter,” said Ward 1 Alderman Ron Johnson. “That starts flooding.”
But Johnson also said he has received many complaints from citizens who believed they were receiving citations when they found the warning notes on their doors.
“I don’t think city workers are authorized to give out citations,” Johnson added.
Delaware said no citations have been given, only warnings. But she said city workers can give out those notifications.
“I don’t see the problem with it, but if there are issues with it, it was me,” Delaware said.
Ward 4 Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said he has also been “bombarded” with phone calls about the warnings.
“One citizen was upset because he didn’t even have trees in his yard,” Brent said. “The leaves came from his neighbor’s yard over into his yard. He makes a tremendous effort to keep his yard clean. There was a neighbor across the street with leaves all in his yard and the neighbor didn’t get a citation.”
Delaware said the main concern is when citizens place their loose leaves in the streets, close to gutters.
Ward 2 Alderman Dr. Jack Varner said there are also problems with loose leaves flying out of the back of city work trucks. He said he recently followed a truck and witnessed the leaves falling right back into the streets.
“I wrote a letter, but I didn’t send it,” Delaware replied. “But I’m going to probably make a motion that we allow the aldermen to manage public works. Every day we come in here to these meetings, and everybody has a solution for the public works but the public works director.”
Walter Williams serves as the city’s public work director.
“I think these gentlemen (department heads) should be expected to do their job,” Delaware said. “If this keeps up, I’ll just make the motion that it’s managed by the aldermen.”
“Anybody can make a suggestion cause everybody don’t know everything,” Johnson replied.
