Thursday, March 30, 2006

Yard Waste pickup clarification

Starting Monday, April 3, All Star Waste Systems will begin residential refuse collection service for City of Lakeland residents.

-Regular refuse collection schedules (except for yard waste in bags) will not change. All Star Waste Systems will pick up all refuse except for bagged yard waste, and loose limbs. Some items, as noted in the notice from All Star Waste Systems, are the responsibility of the resident.

-The recycling schedule will remain the same, except it will be on Tuesdays.

-Small amounts of yard wsste (bagged leaves and grass clippings) will be picked up on Mondays. On Monday, we will also note the larger amounts of yard waste for collection later in the week. We plan to collect larger amounts up on Tuesday and Wednesday, but weather, equipment problems etc. could change the schedule.

-Limb pickup will remain every other week.

There has been some confusion on the yard waste schedule and we apologize for the confusion on this matter.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Thanks, Jesse!

Our thanks to Jesse McCabe for having the idea, and coordinating, a "clean-up day" in IH Park. The Cleanup was very successful and he attracted a lot of volunteers who pitched in to clean-up the park.

Lakeland Natural Resources Director Eric Bridges and Natural Resoures Technician Nick Bridgeman, also assisted in the efforts.

It is residents like Jesse McCabe who make Lakeland such a nice place to live. He also serves on the Lakeland Design and Review Commission.

Thanks Jesse for all you do for Lakeland!

Trash hauling changes

The complete text of the All Star Waste Systems letter on the change-over in trash service is noted below.


Effective April 1, 2006City of Lakeland Solid Waste Disposal Service:
ALL STAR WASTE SYSTEMS

Your solid waste collection day WILL NOT change.
Recycling collection day WILL change to every other TUESDAY.
(All Star will begin delivering new carts and recycle bins on MARCH 27, 2006.)

During the week of March 27, 2006, BFI will pick up your trash
for the last time and remove your trash cart and recycle bin.



Collection Day: Collection day will not change. There will be no pick-up on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your scheduled collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, solid waste collection will be delayed one day.

Preparation: Containerize/bag all household trash and rubbish. It is important that you place your cart at the curb by 7 a.m. with the front of the cart facing the street (handle away from street), because your cart will be collected by a fully automated truck. All Star drivers will document occurrences when carts are not out at time of collection.

Collection Point: Garbage, rubbish, and recyclables will be retrieved from your curbside.

Containers: It is required that you use the All Star 95-gallon roll cart for refuse and 18-gallon bin for recyclables. Should you have additional refuse that will not fit into the cart, please bag and place it on top of the cart or next to the cart.

Acceptable Material: All household garbage and rubbish. All Star WILL NOT collect yard waste such as: grass cuttings, leaves and brush. Yard waste will be collected as a separate pick-up.

City of Lakeland note: Small amounts of bagged grass clippings and leaves will be picked up on Monday of each week. Larger amounts will be scheduled for later in the week. Limb chipping will continue on an every other week schedule.

Unacceptable Material: NO construction materials, rocks, dirt, or concrete will be collected. Car batteries, paint, tires, large auto parts, and dead animals are also unacceptable. To dispose of any material labeled “hazardous,” contact the Shelby County Health Department at 576-7656. Some of these substances are extremely dangerous chemicals and may cause injury to All Star personnel or to the public. Please do not put hot coals or ashes in your container. Remember the liability remains with you.

Home Appliances: Small appliances may be placed in your 95-gallon roll cart or left at the curb with regular trash. If you have large appliances or furniture weighing more than 75 pounds, you should call All Star (854-8865) to arrange a special pick-up. Any appliances, such as refrigerators or air conditioning systems, containing refrigerants, will not be picked up unless drained and tagged by a licensed technician. When purchasing such appliances, it is strongly recommended you make sure the seller will dispose of the old item at the time of purchase.

Customer Service: Contact Lakeland City Hall at 867-2717 for information or to request roll carts and recycling containers. Please refer to Cable Channel 19 or city websites www.lakelandtn.gov or www.cityoflakeland.com for updates on trash and recycling schedules.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Trash hauling changes effective April 1, 2006

Effective April 1, 2006, residential trash pickup will be provided by All Star Waste Systems rather than Allied/BFI Waste Systems.

Next week (during the week of March 27-30, existing residential carts and recycling containers will be picked up by Allied/BFI and new carts and recycling containers will be delivered by All Star Waste Systems.

Weekly residential trash pickup schedules will not change. The day you currently put out your trash will continue to be the same.

Recycling pickups will change to TUESDAY, from the current day of Monday. If your recycling is currently picked up on the first and third Monday of the month, your recycling will be picked up on the first and third Tuesday of the month. If your recycling is currently picked up on the second and fourth Monday, your recycling will be picked up on the second and fourth Tuesday.

One major change is that all yard waste (bagged grass and leaves other than in the container) will be picked up on a separate schedule from the regular refuse collection. Small amounts will be collected on Mondays, larger amounts will be collected later in the week.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Information on Political Sign Bonds

Lakeland residents who wish to post political signs (or allow such signs to be posted) on their property may check Lakelandpermits.blogspot.com to see if a Political Sign permit and bond has been obtained.

Posting signs is not legal unless the candidate (or organization supporting an issue) has obtained a Political Sign permit and bond.

Persons with questions are encouraged to contact Jim Atkinson at Lakeland City Hall, 867-2717 or CityHall@lakelandtn.org.

New Blog for Solicitor Permits

Due to recent problems with door-to-door solicitors who may not have a Lakeland Permit, the City of Lakeland is starting a blog for solicitor permits. The Blog can be accessed at Lakelandpermits.blogspot.com.

We will post the active permits for solicitors who have received a Lakeland permit. A Shelby County Permit and a Lakeland Permit are required.

Permits will be posted starting Monday, March 20, 2006. (Religious and Political Solicitors do not have the same Permit requirements.)

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Political Sign Requirements

As the political season approaches, residents are reminded of the requirements for posting political signs.

I realize this may be confusing, so residents are encouraged to contacted Jim Atkinson at Lakeland City Hall (867-2717) with specific questions.

Note that one requirement is that ALL CANDIDATES must post a $500 bond before any signs can be posted. Please call City Hall if you are not sure if your candidate has posted the bond.

Also note that political signs are not allowed until 30 days before "early voting" starts.

We appreicate your cooperation in complying with these requirements.

Political Signs (14-404.2(11))

Political signs shall be allowed, provided that:

(a) Such signs shall be limited to not more than one (1) per candidate or issue on any single occupied parcel except polling places on election day where signage may be placed in accordance with Election Commission guidelines for signage at polling places;

(b) Such signs shall be located on private property, with permission of the property owner;

(c) Such signs shall not be placed closer than fifteen (15) feet from the edge of pavement or five (5) feet behind a sidewalk, whichever is greater;

(d) Such signs shall not be erected or placed in such a manner that they interfere with, obstruct, or confuse or mislead vehicular or pedestrian traffic;

(e) No such sign shall be erected or displayed earlier than thirty (30) days before the election including Early Voting to which it relates, nor later than three (3) days following such election;

(f) Such signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way or on other public property or on any public utility pole or tree, except within specified proximity of polling places on election day, under the rules established by the Shelby County Board of Election;

(g) No signs will be allowed at polling places earlier than one (1) day before an election or early voting period and must be removed not later than one (1) day after said election or early voting period. For signs placed at polling places no permit or bond will be required, but requirements of all other sections of this Ordinance shall apply;

(h) Such signs shall not exceed five (5) square feet in area per side and 48 inches in height;

(i) Such signs erected or maintained not in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property upon which the sign is located, shall be deemed a public nuisance, and may be abated, without notice, by such property owner, the candidate, or person advocating the vote described in the sign, or the Building Official or his/her designee;

(j) Any candidate or political committee desiring to distribute, cause to be distributed, display, place, or erect any political sign shall file an application for a Political Sign Distributor’s Permit with the City of Lakeland upon forms furnished by the City, and provide such pertinent information as said application may require;

(k) The Political Sign Distributor’s Permit application shall include an agreement, which obligates the applicant to reimburse the City of Lakeland for costs associated with removal of signs specified in Section 14-404.2 (11) (a) through (h) of this Ordinance. Upon filing such application, the Building Official or his designee shall issue a Political Sign Distributor’s Permit to the applicant together with the issuance of a permit number; and

(l) Any person desiring to post or erect any political sign including but not limited to signs advertising a political party or the candidacy of any individual for any nomination or office, shall, in addition to obtaining the Political Sign Distributor’s Permit required by Section 14-404.2 (11) (i) and (j) of this Ordinance, first deposit with the City of Lakeland a cash bond in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00), which bond shall be conditioned upon removal of each and every such sign within five (5) days after the announced results of the nomination, election, or referendum to which the sign pertains. If such removal is not made within the specified time, the bond shall be forfeited to the City of Lakeland, and may be used by the City to defray the cost of removing such signs.

(m) The City Manager may, at his discretion, establish a uniform policy whereby a specific portion of the bond is assessed per sign not removed within the specified time so that part but not necessarily all of the bond shall be forfeited, depending upon the number of signs per candidate City Staff is required to remove.

Garage Sale Signs

As Spring approaches, residents are reminded of the following regulations regarding the placement of garage/yard sale signs.

Yard Sale Signs (14-404.2(20))

Signs for yard sales shall be allowed provided that:

(a) Only one (1) such sign shall be on the lot where the yard sale is located;

(b) Such sign shall not exceed five (5) square feet in sign area per side and 48 inches in height measured from finished grade;

(c) Such sign shall be removed immediately upon conclusion of the yard sale;

(d) No such signs shall be placed in such as manner as to obstruct visibility or be attached to utility poles, directional or regulatory signage, or trees; and

(e) Such sign shall not be placed closer than 15 feet from the edge of pavement or five (5) feet behind a sidewalk, whichever is greater.


We appreciate the cooperation of all residents in complying with these requirements.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Lakeland Arbor Day Celebration 9:00 a.m., Saturday, March 11

Lakeland Arbor Day is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., Saturday, March 11, 2006 at Zadie E. Kuehl Park.

Natural Resources Director Eric Bridges has designed an excellent program that illustrates the special significance of Arbor Day in Lakeland. We also are fortunate in having the support of many residents and volunteers who volunteer their time and energy in projects to conserve and enhance the beauty of Lakeland.

Eric is one of only several person in Tennessee who area both a certified Arborist and a Certified Forester.

Eric prepared a grant for financing a staff person (a Natural Resources Technician) to assist in preparing a Natural Resources Inventory which is a major step in conserving our natural resources.

Plan to come out for Arbor Day this Saturday!

Community identity

I recently heard (on the radio program “Smart City”) an interesting conversation concerning “Places” in a City, especially as it relates to establishing a community identity.

Although the speaker was using it in a different context, he noted that to establish "community", a City needs places for people to “find” each other and “see and be seen” to expereince what it is to be a resident. Such “places” may be schools, restaurants, parks, recreational facilities, etc. Recent such places in Lakeland would appear to be Lakeland elementary, Crackerbarrel, various City parks and, perhaps, the possible Starbucks etc.

There will be some important decisions on facilities which will establish “community” in the near future. This will include development of several parks (Windward Slopes Park, other parks, possible athletic fields etc.) in the near future and other public facilities in the next several years.

The Board of Commissioners, Municipal Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, Economic Development Commission and Park Board/Natural Resource Board would like to hear your comments on proposed developments.

I encourage all residents to “let your voice be heard” and comment on proposed developments. These facilities are literally shaping our Lakeland community and identity and how we will relate to other residents.