2020/10/05 - Mayor's Column: Please Help Us Keep O'Fallon's Streets Clean
“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
Each of us as citizens of O’Fallon play an important role in having our community looking its best over the fall and winter months.
Here are a few items that I would like to remind everyone about:
- Please do not throw paper wrappers, cups, cans, or other litter out of the car windows. These items end up in someone’s yard or streets and it looks terrible. It can also enter the storm drains and cause flooding issues.
- Make sure that you do not have obstructions in the streets that will interfere with traffic, flow of stormwater, and snowplows. Basketball hoops and abandoned vehicles always present a challenge for keeping streets and gutters clean.
- Make sure that leaves and grass clippings are bagged or mulched and not blown out into the street. These things can also end up blocking the storm drains. I encourage you to use the yard waste pick-up that is covered with your trash pickup cost.
You might say, well Herb why are you worried about this? Well, I am concerned because of how it impacts our City. Trash and litter not only have a negative look on our community, but it may also have an impact on safety for our citizens and costs to our city.
How does this impact safety? If items are left in the street, drivers may hit them, or swerve to avoid them and cause an accident. It also makes it very difficult for snowplows to clear the streets properly and can cause damage to a snowplow and other nearby items. When that happens, the plow is out of service and it slows our ability to clear the roads. Believe me, it does happen because I have seen it when riding with our snowplows during the winter.
When the storm drains get blocked by grass, leaves or other items, this stops or slows down the drainage of rainwater and melting snow. Which then, can cause standing water in the streets and people’s property. If this occurs when temperatures are dropping, it can also cause ice and additional safety problems for walkers, bike riders and cars.
The City does routinely clean the streets and gutters in O’Fallon. You have most likely seen the street sweeper working throughout the day. However, there are certain areas that this vehicle cannot get to or get to ask often as needed. We ask that everyone do their part and help us keep the City looking (and functioning) great.
Your assistance and cooperation on these types of items are greatly appreciated. We are fortunate that most of our citizens already do this. But if everyone does it, it can make a big difference.
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open (virtually, at least)!