CLEARFIELD – In order to better cleanup the area, Clearfield Borough officials would like local residents to help in their efforts.
“Everyone wants a clean town. We need everyone to work together to get there. And, I’ll see that it says that way,” Code Enforcement Officer Larry Mack said.
Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott added that they would like residents to aid in the cleanup throughout the year.
Stott said the borough will continue to provide curbside pickup for lawn and yard wastes. She said that pickups are conducted each Monday and follow a rotating schedule.
Stott said curbside pickups are scheduled for the first Monday of each month for First Ward, second Monday of each Monday for Second Ward, third Monday of each month for Third Ward and the fourth Monday of each month for Fourth Ward. She said that if a Monday would fall on a holiday, yard wastes will be picked up on the following day.
Stott said that the all materials must be placed at the curb for collection. She said that residents should not place the materials outside no earlier than 7 p.m. on the evening prior to the scheduled collection.
Stott also noted lawn wastes and tree trimmings must comply with the following requirements.
• Leaves and lawn wastes must be placed in biodegradable paper bags and weigh no more than 40 pounds.
• Tree branches should neither measure more than three inches in diameter, nor longer than four feet. Branches must be tied in bundles that weigh no more than 40 pounds. Logs and stumps will not be picked up.
• Building materials, such as blocks, bricks, siding or roofing, should not be placed in bags or at the curb for pickup.
• Garbage or rubbish, such as furniture and appliances, will not be picked up.
• Metal items will not be picked up.
“It’s an important part and keeps the cost down,” Stott said of the aforementioned requirements. She said that if they’re not followed, it results in a labor issue.
She said the materials that are not collected or not in compliance with the borough’s specifications become the property owner’s responsibility in terms of curbside and property disposal.
She said that residents who engage in yard sales must remove any signs within five days of the sale.
Mack reminded residents that grass height cannot be more than four inches. He said that fines can be up to $50 total per violation. He said that property owners should not deposit lawn wastes onto the roadways.
Stott indicated that they’re seeing “significant garbage and rubbish” at the borough’s compost site. She said that property owners who wish to deliver any lawn wastes and tree trimmings to the site may do so but must first make an appointment with the Clearfield Borough Street Commissioner.
Mack said that borough residents are required by code to retain sanitation pickup. He said that garbage bags should be placed in a standard, hard container and placed out the evening before the scheduled collection.
Stott said that dumping at the borough garage is strictly prohibited. She said that violators will be prosecuted.
“We are watching it very heavily,” she said.
Both Mack and Stott also asked that residents follow the borough’s dog curbing ordinance.
According to him, feces cleanup has become a “real problem.” He said that any resident who fails to cleanup after their pet can be fined $150 per day until it’s cleaned up.
Mack also said that they’re requesting residents to be more sensitive to feeding stray animals. He said that the borough office has received a lot of stray animal complaints. He said the increased number of strays in the area has created a feces and odor problem.
Mack said that borough officials are looking into potential ordinances to help alleviate the area’s dog and cat problems.
He said they would like to eventually apply new ordinances to strengthen their ability to enforce the situation. However, he said that they would like to do so in a way that is humane and fair to both the residents as well as the animals.
Mack said if residents experience problems, they can contact the borough’s office for additional information.
“Something will be done,” he said.