Western Springs Leaf Pickup Faces Challenges, Including Increased Costs

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs residents generally support the village's fall leaf pickup program, but they want improvements in communication, scheduling and operational efficiency, the village said.

But officials say the program faces challenges, including increasing costs, equipment demands and staff limitations.

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Last year, the program encountered an unusual hurdle: Snow fell before the village finished the pickup. With plows coming through, leaves were mixed with snow, a problem that affected many towns.

Under the program, residents rake leaves to the curb, so the village can pick them up. But the leaves build up along storm drains, increasing the chances of localized flooding, according to a memo this week from Matthew Supert, the village's top public works official.

"Public Works staff routinely respond to clear blocked inlets during storms, diverting personnel from other maintenance and emergency operations," Supert said.

Nearly all public works employees are assigned to leaf collection, which limits the village's ability to complete routine maintenance, respond to work orders and improve infrastructure, Supert said.

And the efforts place significant wear on specialized equipment that was not designed for prolonged leaf handling, according to the memo.

Additionally, the village's service area is expanding as subdivisions such as Commonwealth and Timber Trails are accepted into the village's street system. The increase is estimated to be 9 percent.

The village is midway through a survey on its leaf collection effort, with more than 450 responses as of last week.

Residents have expressed concern with cars parking over leaf piles and improper disposal of things such as pumpkins and other types of debris, Supert said in the memo.

The village said it could increase enforcement to lessen those problems.

It also said it would look into operational efficiencies.

"In the longer term, staff will examine whether contractual vacuuming services could be implemented with leaves placed in the parkway rather than the roadway, which may help mitigate on-street flooding, parking conflicts, and other recurring issues," Supert said.

He said Western Springs should consider the program's challenges alongside residents' expectations.

The Village Board plans to discuss the issue at its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Village Hall.