Leave no leaf behind

A Charles City leaf pick-up crew gets some work done Tuesday at the corner of 5th Avenue and G Street in Charles City, near Lincoln Elementary School.

Residents are asked to push their leaves into piles in the street, which are then picked up with loaders and dump trucks throughout the community this week. The crews started on Monday and planned to gather the leaves through Wednesday.

Once placed into the trucks, the leaves are transported to the Charles City compost site, located at 300 Shaw Ave.

Residents were asked to rake leaves into the street 18-24 inches away from the curb to allow the leaves to be picked up easier and so if it rains the rainwater can flow toward the storm sewers and not plug the intakes.

Street department workers started on the west side of town and are working north to the avenues, then back to the south to Clark Street and on to the south side of the river. The city has not yet announced future collection dates this fall.

(Press photos James Grob)