City may end alley brush collection to save time, money

Should Port Washington eliminate brush collection in alleys throughout the city?

That is the question the Board of Public Works will debate at its Jan. 11 meeting, and members are seeking input from residents before that session.

Currently, the city picks up brush at both the curb and in alleys on alternate weeks in spring and fall and weekly in summer.

But this duplication of service adds time to the route and increases training needed for seasonal employees.

And because alleys are narrow, these seasonal workers are challenged as they back the chipper in dead ends and maneuver around tight corners, officials said.

The city has about five miles of alleys that take one to two hours to clear, Public Works Director Rob Vanden Noven said. 

Vanden Noven estimated the extra cost of providing brush pickup in alleys as well as along curbs at $3,800 annually — roughly half the cost of a seasonal worker.

That number, he noted, reflects a savings in not just labor but also use of the equipment and fuel.

“It really seems like a duplication of a service,” Vanden Noven said. “My guess is people who use it appreciate it.” 

Eliminating the alley pickup would allow the city crew to spend more time cutting grass, filling potholes and doing other work, he said.

Ald. Mike Gasper asked if the city could make an exception if residents request an alley pickup, noting that could be particularly helpful if someone cut down a tree in their back yard.

That could likely be done, Vanden Noven said, but if it “morphed” into a regular event “that could be an issue.”

Vanden Noven noted that the city would notify the affected residents by letter early in the season so they would be prepared for the change.

It would also be noticed on the city’s Facebook page and the city website, as well as being included on a flier handed out at the city yard and at City Hall.

But board members expressed concern about trimming the service, noting that it may be easier for residents living on alleys to haul the brush there rather than bring it to the curb for pickup.

Ald. Pat Tearney, a member of the board, said he would like to hear from residents before making a decision in the matter.

“I’d like some public feedback on it,” he said.

Board members agreed, deciding to delay a decision until January to allow enough time for residents to consider the matter.