Madison Homeowners Angry Over Ripped-Up Terraces From City Leaf Pick-Up
How the City Of Madison picks up leaves has become a concern for those who care about their terrace space, and the landscaping they undertake in order to make everything look nice at home. What I thought was just my concern about how the city mangled terrace sod when picking up leaves is now being voiced by others around Madison.
I welcome the added voices over this problem, since I think most of us want our homes to look great, and the city to be a nice sight to see when we travel about.
My concern about how leaves are taken from terraces started in the fall of 2009. It was then the city brought in a bobcat type tractor to gather the leaves from my terrace. This, in and of itself, was ridiculous, as in previous years a couple of guys had jumped from a truck, and raked the pile into the street. It took a couple of minutes. Then a small jeep-like vehicle pushed the leaves into the lift on the back of a city truck. The leaves left, and the terrace was not damaged.
But in 2009 due to the bobcat being driven like a 17-year-old with a new license my sod was ripped up, deep track marks were left, and it looked like hell. All just to get the leaves off the terrace! Worse was the fact the city crew must have thought this was an acceptable result of their work.
This spring I started out with grass seed in an effort to remedy the mess, and when that did not grow fast enough I bought some sod. Having a nice lawn was something my dad worked hard at back home, and it is something I am committed to as an adult. I watered the terrace all summer and it looks great even now as winter approaches.
No leaves were piled on my terrace this year as I mulched them with the mower. I was not going to let the city tear it up again. But walking along my neighborhood I notice where the too large bobcat machine has damaged terrace after terrace.
Here is a picture of what the City Of Madison uses to ride up onto the terraces to get leaves. Look at the tires on this machine and then ask yourself if city residents have a right to complain.
Here is what I think taxpayers have a problem with over the way the city picks up leaves.
First, folks work hard to make the terrace attractive.
Second, they take pride in the trees that are planted in the terrace and do not wish to see the roots crushed by the weight of the bobcat.
Third, they do not like to see the curb crushed due to this heavy piece of equipment running up and over to get the leaves.
Fourth, some people in my neighborhood have noticed paving blocks have been ripped up by the city crews collecting leaves.
None of this needs to happen in order to pick up leaves. This is just unacceptable behavior by the city. And on top of that we get to pay for it twice. Once as taxpayers for the leaf removal, and again when we replant and tidy up.
I have used this blog in the past to applaud the city snow removal crews, and city forestry. I know how to say thanks. In other words I am mindful of the hard work the city workers undertake everyday to make Madison run smoothly.
But there are times when I wonder how people can be so dense. When a city worker on a machine leaves behind ruts, and a general mess someone needs to address the problem. Would they want this mess left behind at thier home?
I hope more citizens express themselves about this matter to their elected alderperson and seek a remedy.
not to mention the city policy of no scheduled pickups, which they say cuts down on overtime. so instead, if you follow the city directions, the leaves can stay on your lawn for weeks. By that time, the grass underneath has died, and there’s nothing to keep the soil from washing into the streets and lakes. Like Dan said, (and W tried to say) fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
the other thing I like is when I complained about the big scar on the lawn from the bobcat, the supervisor with the city said, “Oh you’re on a list to come back and plant seed and put straw down.” Which they did weeks later or maybe even the following spring. But they don’t let you know that. Instead, wouldn’t you think they’d have a door hanger that apologizes and says they’ll come back to fix it.
Like our neighborhood assn. president says, the city of madison services are complaint driven, not quality driven. which explains why garbage, police, bus and fire vehicles can all drive down a main street with debris or a huge pothole, but until you fill out their online complaint/report form, nothing gets done and no one from the city reports it.
You go Greg!
We had the same thing happen the year after they asked people not to put the leaves in the street. The City also tore up the curb and had to fix it after I complained. As most all our neighbors do now too, the leaves go right in the street!
As to the vacuum comment. I have seen the city crews us a vacuum to get leaves on downtown sidewalks
Our city uses a giant vaccuum cleaner to suck up the leaves people rake to the sidewalk. the leaves are sucked up to this square container on the back of a gravel truck. No ground disturbed or damaged. this vaccuum goes arouns to different neighborhoods at leaf time to gather leaves raked to sidewalks.