Some tips as city curbside leaf pickup set to begin

SYCAMORE – While the city is picking up leaves for its residents beginning Oct. 21, there are some things to remember, and one official preaches patience.

Fred Busse, director of Sycamore Public Works, said those who live in the city must realize that when the public works employees head down a neighborhood street, it doesn’t mean the vacuum truck will be back on the street that same day.

He said residents should not park vehicles in front of the house during the times of the leaf pickup days.

Leaf pickup will be conducted on a revolving basis within each scheduled section of town.

Section 1 refers to the southeast corner of town. The dates span Oct. 21 through Oct. 25, Nov. 4 through Nov. 8, Nov. 18 through Nov. 22 and Nov. 25 through Nov. 27, according to the Sycamore 2019 Leaf Pick-up program brochure.

Section 2 refers to the north and central parts of town near DeKalb Avenue and south through DeKalb Avenue’s intersection with Bethany Road.

The pickup dates in the area span from Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, Nov. 11 through Nov. 15 and Nov. 25 through Nov. 27.

“We have a large area to cover and the leaves fall rapidly at one time,” he said.

Busse cautioned people to not rake their leaves into the street, even though some people think that leaves injure or kill grass.

“I know they get upset about the leaves in the grass, the leaves killing the grass,” he said.

To ensure leaf pickup, residents should be aware the suction hoses on the machines can only reach so far, the brochure states. If the leaves reach the street, they can cause safety problems for vehicles and can cause flooding.

Weather might the pickup program to end early.

Residents can also bring leaves – inside Kraft paper bags – from Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 to the Public Works facility at 475 North Cross St. and place them in a dumpster there. Only leaves will be accepted, according to the brochure.

For information, visit www.cityofsycamore.com, and for other questions residents are encouraged to call 815-895-3545 to reach Sycamore Public Works.