[DEC. 14, 2005]
Following months of rigorous agendas, the Lincoln
City Council finally laid back for a quieter evening of discussions
and some housekeeping on Tuesday. It was slow enough so as to
discuss a matter of somewhat lesser importance that was mostly
shoved aside, not only in chambers, but also more specifically into
the neighborhood streets this past fall -- leaves.
Leaves, leaves and snow, leaves and sewer drainage were the problem
discussed at some length.
One of Lincoln's most aesthetically
pleasing aspects is its attractive tree-lined streets, especially in
the old-town residential area near downtown. They are wonderfully
shady in the summer, and the tree-lined brick roads are particularly
picturesque in the fall.
However, the overabundance of leaves and their disposal in the
fall continues to be a problem each year. They somehow just don't
blow over to Indiana the way some wish they would.
The leaves block drains, causing streets to flood, creating
hazardous driving conditions in the fall, winter and into the
spring.
The current problem is giant snowballs created when plows on the
streets encounter leaf piles. "They're like hitting a brick wall,"
Alderman Buzz Busby said. "You don't want to hit one."
Mayor Beth Davis said that she's received calls complaining that
the leaves have reduced parking on residential side streets since
the snowfall.
Traditionally leaves were burned. Negative impact on the health
of some residents has stopped that practice.
Property owners are asked to package leaves for disposal, and the
city offers several opportunities of free leaf pickup.
Schools have organized groups to help the elderly with this
chore.
Yet, some residents continue to shorten the chore by shoving,
sweeping, rake-tossing leaves into the streets. Several members of
the council said that even people who are witnessed doing the deed
will deny it, saying that they didn't do it -- the leaves just fell
off city trees onto the city streets, and it's the city's problem.
Streets Superintendent Tracy Jackson said that he made 40-45
calls on property owners, asking them not to put their leaves in the
street. He chuckled and said that some would try to deny having done
it until he'd point to the street and tell them, "I can tell the
difference between the leaves that have just fallen on the street
and the ones thrown there," and while looking and seeing the obvious
piles, they'd start confessing.
Mayor Davis kidded Jackson, "You didn't know you had be leaf
police too, did you?"
City attorney Bill Bates said that the ordinances that deal with
this issue are old and weak. He suggested that the council consider
revising them before next fall.
How weak and old are they? Well, see if you can get an idea. One
reads something close to this, "No person shall throw, push or leave
manure, filth, dirt, leaves or rubbish in front of their
property."
Another ordinance says that it is the duty of the owner to keep
property clean in front, including the gutter. It stipulates the
fine for a violation to be not more than $125 nor less than $100. A
problem noted with this description is that it doesn't account for
corner properties and the side-street area.
Aldermen contributed to the potential revision of another
ordinance that would prohibit property owners from putting leaves,
grass, debris and landscape wastes in public streets.
A suggestion by Alderman Jonie Tibbs to add the word "deliberate"
was quickly negated, as the mayor said, "It infers a state of mind,"
and Alderman Patrick Madigan added, "Or a position of intent." We
can't get into that, they said.
Whatever the wording, the council will be addressing the issue,
and citizens can expect some enforcement by next fall.
There could be another crackdown coming -- on delinquent sewer
bills. Busby and Davis recently said that accounts collectible were
on the rise. The city has had an ongoing problem with this for
years.
It is often difficult to get the responsible party to pay up. The
city can disconnect and even dig up a line.
The biggest problem arises when one party on a shared line does
not pay their bill. Some other problem cases are renters who don't
pay their bills. They usually owe back rent and other utilities
also, some of which eventually fall on the property owner.
The council decided to postpone the Dec. 27 meeting to meet just
before the Jan. 3 session.
