Tag: spring

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

One round for Spring Leaf Collection April 3-7

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Spring leaf collection will last just one week and there will be just one round of curbside collection from Muscatine residences in April according to the Department of Public Works (DPW). Residents are urged to gather their unwanted leaves curbside no later than April 2 for the curbside collection event set for April 3-7.

“We are asking residents who want the City of Muscatine to collect their left-over leaves to have them raked to the curb by April 2,” Tyson Wedekind, Roadway Maintenance Supervisor, said. “We will be making just one round through each zone this year.”

Only one leaf vacuum truck will be sent out during the week. That truck will start in Zone 1 Monday and continue making one round through all zones. The primary collection effort will end when Zone 8 is completed.

“Due to the constraints of staffing and the number of projects that are or will be underway this spring, we decided to have just one round of collection,” Wedekind said. “Therefore it is important for residents who want to utilize this opportunity to have their leaves raked and ready to pick up by April 2.”

Residents who miss the collection can utilize their left-over leaves for mulch, place them in a compost pile on the resident’s property, or place them into City of Muscatine leaf bags. Residents can place the bags curbside for collection by the Solid Waste Division on their regular refuse collection day, or transport the bags to the Compost Facility at the Muscatine Transfer Station. City of Muscatine leaf bags are available at the Muscatine Transfer Station, and at Hy-Vee and Fareway.

Wedekind also said that DPW will not be taking any calls for leaf collection this spring.

General guidelines for leaf pickup:

  • Leaves should be placed near but not beyond the curb, and should be within reach of the leaf vacuum. Leaves should be free of tree branches and twigs as they can cause the leaf vacuums to clog up. 
  • All leaves must be placed outside of fenced areas.
  • Leaves are not to be placed in the street to avoid clogging storm drains.
  • Leaves should not be placed in street or extend into traffic lanes, thereby creating traffic hazards.
  • Leaves should not be placed around obstacles such as mailbox posts, sign posts and light poles.
  • Crews will not pick up leaves mixed with debris, logs, branches, rocks, plastic, metal or glass containers, or any other types of refuse.
  • Leaves should not be placed on City cul-de-sacs, vacant land, or City property except on the public right-of-way along the curb/shoulder area.
Continue reading “One round for Spring Leaf Collection April 3-7”
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Spring Forward: Time to change clocks, batteries this weekend

MUSCATINE, Iowa – March is a month of change as we say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. Change also includes losing an hour of sleep in the second weekend of the month as Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins.

Muscatine residents will officially “spring” forward at 2 a.m. Sunday (March 12, 2023) but most will move their clocks up one hour Saturday night before going to sleep.

Not only is this the weekend to change your clocks, it is also a good time to review your safety checklist. 

The Muscatine Fire Department reminds residents that this weekend is also a good time to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to change the batteries, to check the dates on the detectors, and to remind family and friends to do the same.

“The bi-annual changing of time is the perfect opportunity to make sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are up-to-date and in working order,” Mike Hartman, Assistant Fire Chief, said.

If you do not have both of these detectors … purchase and install them.

When the alarm sounds you should “Get out & Stay Out”, then call “911” and advise the MUSCOM dispatcher of the problem.

Tragedy was averted in two recent residential fires despite smoke detectors not working. Both homes were destroyed by fire but the sleeping occupants were awakened by family pets and they were able to escape.

“If their pets did not wake them, we would have lost more than just two homes,” Hartman said. “We were very fortunate. Working smoke detectors may have alerted the occupants sooner and potentially saved their homes.”

Hartman noted that research has showed that sleeping individuals do not smell smoke so the sounds emitting from a smoke detector are important to rousing sleeping individuals.

“Studies have also shown that children, especially, will sleep through an alarm that beeps because it sounds a lot like an alarm clock,” Hartman said. “The alarms that actually speak to you have been shown to greatly increase a person’s ability to escape a fire.”

Pre-teenage children don’t wake up to traditional high-frequency tone alarms according to research from the Center for Injury Research and Policy. Detectors that speak or vibrate when activated can help wake children or Individuals with visual or hearing impairments.

A variety of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are available and finding the right one for your family situation is important Hartman said.

“Also be sure to check the date on the smoke detector,” Hartman said.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) also recommends replacing smoke alarms in homes every 10 years and those that actually speak warnings are more effective in saving lives than those alarms that just beep.

The Fire Department also recommends photoelectric alarms with a 10-year lithium battery and to mark the date of installation on the detectors.

“These detectors do not last forever,” Hartman said. “It is important that you check the date on the detectors and replace those that are seven years old or more.”

Continue reading “Spring Forward: Time to change clocks, batteries this weekend”
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Greenwood Cemetery grave decorations need to be removed by March 15

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The annual spring cleanup of Muscatine Greenwood Cemetery is underway. All grave decorations are to be removed by Wednesday, March 15, 2023, according to cemetery staff. Remaining grave decorations will be removed and discarded by cemetery staff after that date.

Grave decorations include, but are not limited to, wreaths, silk flowers, grave blankets, wooden crosses, toys, cobblestones, and potted plants. Undecorated metal shepherd’s hooks, Remembrance Vigil Candles, and Solar Lights will not be removed.

New grave decorations may be brought in after Saturday, April 1, 2023, with no more than two decorations per grave site.

Please call (563) 263-7051 if you have any questions or require more information. You may also email cemetery staff at greenwoodcemetery@muscatineiowa.gov.

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

DPW Spring Leaf Collection begins Monday in Zone 1

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Spring is here and with that comes the annual pilgrimage to break out the rakes and remove the last vestiges of winter by cleaning up left over yard waste. The Department of Public Works (DPW) is prepared to assist residents with their cleanup efforts again this year with the annual Spring leaf collection starting Monday (April 4).

 

DPW leaf vacuum trucks will be out on the streets of Muscatine starting Monday collecting leaves that have been raked, or carried, to the boulevard in front of a homeowner’s residence. The trucks will begin with Zone 1 and continue until all eight zones are completed.

 

Residents should have their leaves gathered and piled on the boulevard in front of their residences before collection begins on Monday. 

 

Residents can also contact Public Works by phone (563-263-8933) or email pwrequest@muscatineiowa.gov for more information on spring leaf collection or visit Street Cleaning for additional information.

 

This is the only time leaf collection will be conducted during the Spring season. Residents are reminded that they can bag their own leaves and take them to the Compost Facility at the Muscatine Transfer Station. (See COMPOST FACILITY)

 

General guidelines for leaf pickup:

  • Leaves should be placed near but not beyond the curb, and should be within reach of the leaf vacuum. Leaves should be free of tree branches and twigs as they can cause the leaf vacuums to clog up. 
  • All leaves must be placed outside of fenced areas.
  • Leaves are not to be placed in the street to avoid clogging storm drains.
  • Leaves should not be placed in street or extend into traffic lanes, thereby creating traffic hazards.
  • Leaves should not be placed around obstacles such as mailbox posts, sign posts and light poles.
  • Crews will not pick up leaves mixed with debris, logs, branches, rocks, plastic, metal or glass containers, or any other types of refuse.
  • Leaves should not be placed on City cul-de-sacs, vacant land, or City property except on the public right-of-way along the curb/shoulder area.
Continue reading “DPW Spring Leaf Collection begins Monday in Zone 1”
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Annual Greenwood Cemetery cleanup is underway

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The annual spring cleanup of Muscatine Greenwood Cemetery is underway. All grave decorations were to be removed by Monday, March 14, 2022, according to cemetery staff. Remaining grave decorations will be removed and discarded by cemetery staff after that date.

 

Grave decorations include, but are not limited to, wreaths, silk flowers, grave blankets, wooden crosses, toys, cobblestones, and potted plants. Undecorated metal shepherd’s hooks and Remembrance Vigil Candles and Solar Lights will not be removed.

 

New grave decorations may be brought in after Monday, April 4, 2022, with no more than two decorations per grave site.

 

Please call (563) 263-7051 if you have any questions or require more information. You may also email cemetery staff at greenwoodcemetery@muscatineiowa.gov.

 

Continue reading “Annual Greenwood Cemetery cleanup is underway”
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Meteorological spring arrives, time to prepare for severe weather

MUSCATINE, Iowa – With Meteorological spring upon us, the Muscatine County Emergency Management Agency wants to remind those in the county to start preparing for severe storms. 

 

On average, Muscatine County residents can experience thunderstorm warnings for storms that are capable of producing damaging winds, lightning, hail, and even tornadoes.

 

The Muscatine County Emergency Management Commission is in the process of updating the outdoor warning system sirens, many of which were the 1960’s civil defense warning devices. Each year, the Commission approves a budget to replace four (4) sirens for the fiscal year.

 

In cooperation with the Muscatine Area Geographic Information Consortium (MAGIC), a link has been created for Muscatine County residents to pinpoint where the outdoor warning sirens are located. Click on the following link to view the locations: OUTDOOR SIRENS. 

 

Free National Weather Service Storm Spotter Training

 

For those interested in becoming storm spotters, the National Weather Service will be conducting both an in-person and virtual (on-line) training. Storm spotter training will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, at Calvary Church in Muscatine. Classes cover severe weather hazards including thunderstorms and tornadoes, the general structure and movement of severe thunderstorms, identification of important storm features, and safety concerns. 

 

All in-person and virtual classes to be conducted by the NWS Quad Cities office, and all classes last about 2 hours. Classes are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required for virtual classes. Classes are appropriate for all ages, but ages 10 and up will likely get the most out of the training.

 

Click QUAD CITIES STORM WATCHERS for more information or visit the Storm Spotter Training event notification on Facebook.

 

Testing and Activation of the Muscatine County-Wide Outdoor Warning System

 

The Muscatine County Emergency Management Agency has established a Guidance policy for Testing and Activation of the Muscatine County-Wide Outdoor Warning System. As a reminder, sirens are used to alert those who are outdoors of an imminent hazard and prompt them to go indoors and seek further information. The information will be available to the general public through the county and other municipalities’ websites.

 

For more information, visit the Emergency Management website, and follow them on Facebook.

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