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News
Oswego moves to expedite leaf removal program : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisOswego moves to expedite leaf removal program
| Village board approves funding for purchase of a second vacuum
| by John Etheredge
| 11/12/2009
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Oswego residents should see village leaf vacuums in their neighborhoods more frequently as a result of action taken this past week by the village board.
Board members agreed Nov. 3 to purchase a second leaf vacuum at a cost of $18,000 from ODB, Inc. of Richmond, Va. for use by the village's public works department.
Jerry Weaver, the village's public works director, said he expected his department would take delivery of the machine last Friday and it would be put into service this past Monday morning.
Weaver acknowledged public works crews got behind on leaf removal in recent weeks due in part to last month's wet weather and having only one leaf vacuum to operate.
This year marks the first year the public works department has used leaf vacuums. Until last year, the village had used leaf plows.
Weaver told the board the leaf vacuum is proving more economical to operate compared to the leaf plow. The village had used leaf plows since the board voted to ban leaf burning in the village in 1994.
Village President Brian LeClercq told board members that he has heard many positive comments from residents about the leaf vacuum.
However, he said residents have also told him they would like to see the leaf vacuum pass through their neighborhoods more frequently.
"The people are loving it, but they want to see a lot more of it," LeClercq said, referring to the leaf vacuum.
Weaver said public works crews have been operating the leaf vacuum continuously since early last month.
"We are out and running (it) from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at night with two different crews without stopping for lunch," he said. "We're also working on Saturdays."
Weaver said the demand for the leaf vacuum picked up markedly about two weeks ago.
"We had all that wet weather (in October) and then it just seemed like all the leaves fell at once," he said.
Jeff Lawson, chairman of the board's public works committee, voiced support for purchasing the second leaf vacuum.
Lawson said the village is getting a good return on its investment in the first leaf vacuum and is saving money that it would have spent if it continued to operate the leaf plow.
Lawson added, "It (the leaf vacuum) is also one of those visual things that residents appreciate and there aren't too many of them with snow plowing being another."
Lawson and Weaver noted that funds are available to purchase the second leaf vacuum in the public work department's road and bridge fund. Weaver said the purchase could come from a $31,000 line item in the fund for equipment purchases
When questioned by board member Terry Michels, Weaver said his department follows a set schedule in operating the vacuum that calls for it to make one pass a week through local neighborhoods. However, he acknowledged with the large volume of leaves that have fallen in recent weeks, it has been difficult for the crews to keep up with just the one leaf vacuum.
"We are still far behind," he said.
"As soon as we get through (the) Windcrest (Subdivision), they (the residents) are raking them out (to the street) again," Weaver said.
Referring to the purchase of a second leaf vacuum, Michels said, "I'm not saying I'm opposed. (But) not so long ago we released several people from their positions here and we had to emphasize that we didn't have the dollars to spare. Where is the money all of a sudden available from?"
Weaver said the funds for the leaf vacuum purchase were previously budgeted for equipment purchases by his department. He said there should be enough money in the fund to cover equipment purchases-including the leaf vacuum -for the balance of the fiscal year, which ends April 30.
"I think it's great if we can get it in time so it can be of use this fall," Michels said of the leaf vacuum. "I have driven the streets and I've seen the leaves out there. I think we need to be mindful of this budget scenario we had that the message we sent was that we had no money available."
Board member Tony Giles said, "Obviously, it would be nice to have. I know we are behind, but is it more of a need or a luxury?"
Weaver said he believes the second leaf vacuum is needed to not only to speed leaf removal, but also for public safety. He noted that the tall leaf piles that are lining many village streets are creating a safety hazard for pedestrians.
"Obviously, if the board were to say don't get it, we'll go forward with the one we have and do the best job we can," Weaver added.
The board agreed to approve the purchase.
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