Lawn Services Violating Darien Rules?

DARIEN, IL — In some towns, you can rake your leaves to the curb and they'll be picked up. Not so in Darien.

According to the village's Facebook page, leaves only may be placed in Kraft yard waste bags or a can with a yard waste identification label attached. No sticker is required. This service is part of the city's leaf pickup program.

At Monday's Darien City Council meeting, resident Joe Myczek said he had seen lawn services blow leaves from a neighbor's property, filling up a wide part of the street.

"I wasn't sure who to call," he said.

Myczek said he understood why the city didn't want leaves pushed to the curb — to avoid the clogging of storm drains.

Mayor Joseph Marchese said many residents in his neighborhood have lawn services cut their grass.

"When they cut my grass, they mulch those leaves, so there's no need to put anything in the street. They take the excess with them," the mayor said. "I know you wouldn't mention it if you hadn't seen it. But I have not witnessed that in my neighborhood at all, and I don't know anyone who has."

But Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director, said his department occasionally gets calls about the problem. He advised residents to call 911 if they see anyone illegally depositing leaves into the street.