Lexington city council members are assessing the cost and effectiveness of the city’s leaf collection program. Members of the council’s Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee got a report on this fall’s plan Tuesday.
Streets and Roads Director Rob Allen said coronavirus will impact the operation. “We can only hire about half as many as we normally do due to social distancing and COVID protocols. For example, putting two people to a truck where we used to put three,” said Allen.
Allen said leaf collection with vacuum trucks for some 90,000 residents will begin November ninth. More than one council member raised concerns about the program’s one million dollar plus cost and its success in keeping leaves out of the storm drainage system.
Vice Mayor Steve Kay was one of the council members questioning the annual program’s effectiveness. “Rather than continue a system that doesn’t do as much as it needs to do in terms of protection of the sewer system and creates frustration all over town because people don’t get their leaves picked up when want to or need to. Got to stop funding it, look for alternatives, try to educate the community about a better way to do this,” explained Kay.
Allen said only residences with city garbage collection are eligible for leaf pickup. He said citizens should use the Lenny yard waste containers and paper leaf bags as a primary way to dispose of leaves.?
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