No leaf left behind
City crews remove leaves on Mullan Avenue, while another pile waits to be picked up on Front Avenue on Thursday morning.
BILL BULEY/Press
Leaves are piled at intersection on Mullan Avenue on Thursday morning as the city begins its leaf pickup program.
City crews work together to remove leaves on Front Avenue Thursday.
Coeur d’Alene residents looking to get the last remnants of autumn off their lawns can grab a crisp breath of relief.
The city’s annual leaf pickup program is now underway. Crews are coming through now to collect leaves. The city is asking residents who have not already done so to move their leaves and pine needles roughly one foot away from the gutter or curb line to allow for water drainage.
Pickup started in the Fort Ground neighborhood and stretched into the Sanders Beach area Thursday.
The city is asking residents not to put leaves in the street after crews have passed, as pickup will happen only once, and not to include bagged leaves.
The city is also asking all residents to, if possible, move cars off the street during leaf pickup, be aware of leaf pickup equipment in your neighborhood, and keep branches, debris and trash out of leaf piles.
Todd Feusier, director of Streets and Engineering for the city, told the Press ideal weather and strong compliance made Thursday a great first day.
“It went really, really well,” Feusier said. “We have the crews out working hard. We ran nine dump trucks and were able to bring in 131 loads today.”
Feusier said he thanks city residents for their assistance and patience, adding that should you see a leaf pickup crew working, keep a safe distance.
“Give crews lots of space,” he said. “It’s a moving work zone, and we work pretty fast, but we have a lot of blind spots, and we don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
The city estimated crews would likely work into the first week of December.
Today promises to be a challenge, with the forecast calling for snow and rain.
