Town of Porter Highway Department announces 2011 brush pickups

On Monday, April 18, the Porter Highway Department will hold a town-wide brush pickup. It will continue through Tuesday, April 19.

Then, beginning on Monday, May 2, there will be regular pickups on the first Monday of the month in the areas west from Lutts Road. After Monday, May 2, there will be regular pickups every third Monday of the month in the areas east of Lutts Road. The pickup schedule will finish on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 with town-wide pickups on each of these days.

In order to utilize these services, Highway Department Superintendent Scott Hillman reports there are certain important guidelines that must be met. The purpose of the brush pickup service is for reasonable and routine homeowner tree-trimming only, which excludes trees in wooded areas behind homes. "The workers for this department do not enter people's private property, nor do they clear or extend lots for builders or private owners. If a contractor's services are utilized, he is responsible for the clean-up of the trimmings," said Hillman.

In order to ensure safe, quick and easy pickup for crewmembers, branches must be no larger than 3 inches in diameter, and they must be neatly piled with all cut ends facing the road at a waist-high height. Additionally, branches must be free of roots and dirt. Rocks, stumps, leaves, lawn sweepings, twigs, vines, rubbish, etc., will not be picked up by the department due to the danger they pose to the crewmembers and equipment. It is requested that these items are not placed with the branches for pickup.

Refrigerator and freezer pickup will continue on the second Monday of each month. Prior to pickup of a refrigerator or freezer, a licensed technician must remove the Freon and the doors from the appliance, and the certification sticker must remain attached.

For more information, call the Highway Department at 791-3831.