Public Works requests assistance from citizens

The Demopolis Public Works Department is asking citizens to make a concerted effort to observe protocols for proper disposal of rubbish and materials.

With the municipal purse strings tightened for the current fiscal year, DPW is less capable of providing manpower and resources to help accommodate for the disposal of materials.

“We’re trying to get people to stop throwing everything to the street,” department head Mike Baker said. “Leaves, grass clippings, shrub clippings are to be placed behind the curb in plastic bags. Don’t dump it on the other side of the street.”

Baker pointed out that many individuals have taken to disposing of their leaves in nearby ditches, resulting in the blockage of such ditches as leaves become sediment within the trenches.

DPW has also encountered numerous citizens who place building debris, appliances and other materials at the roadside in hopes they will be disposed of by public works. That service, Baker explained, is not covered by the garbage cost charged by the city.

“There is no charge for picking up limbs or anything else because it is not part of your garbage charge. Your garbage charge is just those roll-around carts. The city maintains all the other at our cost as far as labor, fuel and equipment,” Baker said. “Building debris such as lumber, plaster, roofing materials, concrete, things such as that, we don’t remove them. They are supposed to be removed by the people that are there. A lot of times, to keep it from being undone, we go back and pick it up and put it in a dumpster. But it costs us to do it. Stoves, refrigerators, freezers, hot water heaters, toilets, appliances, are not supposed to be picked up. The policy is there that anything like refrigerators or furniture or anything like that should be put close to your garbage can the second pickup of each week. Our main objective is to pick up natural materials.”

Individuals needing to dispose of larger items and materials are encouraged to personally transport them to Advanced Disposal in Linden.

 

Public Works Guidelines for Disposal of Excess Materials 

The Demopolis Publlic Works Department encourages residents to remember the following sections of the city code regarding garbage, trash, junk and weeds.

1. It shall be unlawful for any person to sweep, throw or otherwise deposit or cause to be swept, thrown or otherwise deposited any garbage, rubbish, paper, containers (either glass, metal or paper), or any substance of any kind in or upon any curb, gutter, street, avenue, highway, tunnel, sidewalk, park, parkway, vacant or occupied lot or the property of another person.

2. Trees or parts of trees not more than 12 inches in diameter and cut to less than 10 feet in length will be collected if piled behind the curb and with all tops placed in the same direction.

3. Leaves, grass clippings, shrub clippings, etc., are to be placed behind the curb and in plastic bags or cardboard containers.

4. Building debris such as lumber, plaster, roofing, concrete, brickbats or similar materials resulting from construction, repair or demolishing of any building or structure on private property and dirt and rocks will not be removed by the Public Works Department, but the owner personally must cause this waste to be removed.

5. It shall be the responsibility of all fence companies, tree surgeons, nurseries and landscape contractors or any individual or company doing work on private property to remove from premises all residue and rubbish result in from such work.

6. Stoves, refrigerators, freezers, hot water heaters, sofa, chairs, carpet, linoleum, toilet, other appliances and/or large furniture, or other large items cannot be picked up by the Public Works Department. These items are handled by Arrow Disposal (if the house has city garbage service) and should be separated from other materials.

7. It shall be unlawful for any person to dump, or cause to be dumped, any garbage, rubbish or other refuse upon any property within the corporate limits or police jurisdiction of the city.

8. The Mayor is authorized, empowered and directed to investigate the situation existing in the city as to any lot which is in such official’s opinion, in a condition which is unsanitary, dangerous and unsafe to the citizens of the city because of high grass, weeds, brush garbage, trash and other debris on such lot and which thus forms a breeding place for mosquitoes, insects, rats and other vermin.

9. The Mayor is further directed, authorized and empowered to take such action to have such nuisances abated as is authorized and specified in the provisions of such section.

Any questions, please call Mike Baker, Public Works Superintendent, at 334-289-3879.