Dear Q & A,
Now that Spring has Sprung, I see everyone in the Highlands cleaning up their yards and creating lots of organic waste, branches, grass clippings, and leaves. What is the cities policy regarding the collection of yard waste? I have spoken to a few neighbors and have received lots of different answers... One said the city doesn't accept yard waste any longer, one said you must bag it separately and call for a special pick-up and one other said they just put it in with the regular garbage. What's the right thing to do?
Thanks for any information you might have about this,
Dear Wondering:
You can bag your yard waste and leave it out to be picked up along with regular trash. Do not put it out with your recycling. If you have more than five bags, you need to call 302-576-3878 and ask for a special pick-up. Please remember this is for small yard waste only and only what will fit in a standard trash bag. The city does not provide pick-up for large branches, trees or bushes that don't fit into a bag.
During the late autumn, usually around November to roughly the middle of December, the city has special leaf pick-ups. The city is divided into areas and each area has a week where the city will come along and vacuum up leaves that have been raked into the street. This does not include yard waste. It is only for leaves. Please check the Public Works page on the city web site for the schedule for your area of the city.
Dear Q&A,
The sidewalk in front of my house is cracked and broken and the tree roots have done some damage. Is there someone I can call from the City of Wilmington or the DOT to have the sidewalk fixed or repaired? Do you know if these repairs are on some type of schedule or on a as needed basis? Thank you for any information you may be able to provide....
A homeowner on West 18th Street
Dear Neighbor:
I'm sorry to hear about your sidewalk but you aren't alone. The sidewalks of Wilmington have become and issue in recent years and the problems and politics involved have become very complicated. At one point, even the Delaware Supreme Court was involved. I'm sure you would like a quick and easy answer, but there really isn't one.
Despite that, in practice and for now, these are the rules. Home owners in the city of Wilmington are 100% responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalk in front of their houses. If your sidewalk needs repair, you obliged to pay for it. However, for a variety of reasons all tied up in the politics of the issue, every city councilman has some money in the city budget that they can assign to sidewalk repair. Our city councilman is Steve Martelli and his contact information is on the links page. If Councilman Martelli has any money left over and if he believes it is appropriate, he may be able to arrange for some or all of the repairs in front of your house. Bear in mind though that it could take many months before the city found the time and manpower to do your specific repairs.
One of the most contentious and problematic parts of the issue are the definitions of what is a sidewalk in or out of compliance with the city code. Before all the problems began, a piece of sidewalk 1/2 inch out of alignment with the adjacent piece was considered out of code and until the rules are re-codified, I would suggest that you follow the old guidelines.
The sidewalks all over the Highlands are in tough shape. I suspect you aren't the only one on your block with the problem. You might save a considerable amount of money if you worked with your neighbors to pay to have the entire block done at once or even two or three houses worth.
I'm sorry I don't have a fast and simple answer, but Wilmington's sidewalks have been a thorn in everyone's side for years now. Good luck.
November 30, 2009
Dear Advice:
I see colored stripe marks all over some streets. What do the colors mean?
Dear Neighbor:
According to the city, the colored stripes mark different things and are generally used to prevent breakage or damage where a crew will be digging. The exception is white, which is used to show crews where to dig as well as marking things and areas slated for demolition.
Blue = Water
Red = Power
Yellow = Gas
Orange = Communications/Cable TV
Green = Sewer
White = Demolition
November 23, 2009
Dear Advice:
What is the etiquette regarding leaving a bag of dog waste in someone else's trash can? My wife says we must bring it home but I don't see the harm in leaving it in any trash can we pass.
Dear Neighbor:
Your wife is right. You should always bring it home and here are the two similar and important reasons why. First, when our garbage collectors empty our trash cans, they don't always lift the can and upend it into the truck. Often, they merely reach in with their hands and take out the bags one by one, particularly if it's a big trash can or full of heavy items. Small bags of dog waste will usually slip and shift to the bottom as the bigger bags are removed. They aren't seen and as time goes on and those small bags either break or biodegrade, they create a sort of revolting "stew" at the bottom that your neighbor has to clean out. You wouldn't want that honor and your neighbor doesn't appreciate you giving them either. Second, our garbage collectors are hardworking people doing a tough job and they don't appreciate reaching into a barrel and grabbing those broken or degrading bags in their hands. Please be a friendly good neighbor and bring the waste back to your home and dispose of it inside a larger bag.
If you have any questions regarding living in The Highlands, please write to: advice@highlands19806.com