Starting in July, the City will introduce a new system for the curbside collection of residential trash and recyclable materials that will be more efficient, encourage even more recycling, reduce blowing litter and pest issues and improve the overall look of neighborhoods on “trash day”.
All materials currently picked up will still be collected at the curb under the new contract. And, as part of the improvements, all Dearborn households will receive two containers for the storage and curbside pickup of their trash and recyclable materials. The trash container is gray and the recycling container is dark green.
These 96-gallon containers, known as carts, have wheels and handles so they can be easily maneuvered from storage areas to the curbside and back. They also have attached hinged lids to keep out pests, reduce odors and prevent blowing litter.
These two carts will be delivered to every Dearborn household beginning in mid-May, with all households receiving them by the end of June. Delivery will be to about 1,000 homes a day and take six weeks.
Curbside collection using the new carts will begin the week of July 5. The carts cannot be used for trash/recycling storage until then.
Under the new system, residents will be instructed to recycle every other week. This will be more convenient than taking recyclable bins back and forth each week. Recycling schedules will be included in a comprehensive information packet to be delivered with the carts.
The larger 96-gallon carts will make it easier for residents to recycle in other ways. They will no longer need to sort or bundle recyclable materials. All qualified materials can be placed loose inside the 96-gallon cart as part of a system known as single-stream recycling.
Residents shouldn’t be concerned to see their recycling cart emptied into a truck without any sorting. The sorting of the materials takes place at the recycling facility.
The City approved the seven-year contract with Republic Waste Services for curbside trash, recycling and yard waste collection on Monday. The contract and the new automated collection system are effective in July.
The City’s contract with Republic will help contain costs for trash and recycling collection moving into the future, because the company uses an efficient, automated system for pickup.
Residents will be instructed on how to place the carts on the easement in front of their homes and behind the curb so that Republic’s trucks can pick up the carts. The carts should be placed so the handles face the house. An electronic arm on the trash and recycling trucks can grab and empty the carts easily and set them back on the easements.
The carts should not be placed in the street. That rule is the same as exists now.
Although many residents will experience some minor changes with the new system that begins in July, Dearborn has been operating a similar program in a pilot area in neighborhoods in the northeast end of the City since the fall of 2008.
The pilot area has experienced less litter, fewer rodent and pest problems and a marked increase in participation in the curbside recycling program.
Under the new contract with Republic, curbside yard waste collection will essentially stay the same. Just as now, residents can put yard waste in paper landscaping bags or in their own containers, specially marked for yard waste collection, and follow all of the city’s existing rules.
For more information, including questions and answers about the program, visit www.cityofdearborn.org
The City of Dearborn will work with community members to explore alternative funding sources that might allow the continued operation of six outdoor neighborhood pools into the future.
In the meantime, the decision has been made to keep all eight outdoor pools open for the 2010 summer season. Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., with the concurrence of the City Council, made clear that additional funding sources need to be identified before the City can commit to operating the six outdoor pools beyond the 2010 season.
The City had proposed closing six of the pools in 2010 as one of many efforts to address a $20 million shortfall in the upcoming budget year, and another $20 million shortfall in the next year. As part of that effort, the City has eliminated 140 fulltime positions and is planning on another 28 fulltime positions, for a total of 28 percent of its fulltime, nonpublic safety workforce.
Closing six of the eight outdoor pools would have saved at least $132,000 in operational costs a year and made unnecessary the estimated $3.8 million in capital improvement costs needed to keep the pools in a safe and healthy condition for the long term.
Dearborn residents can safely dispose of confidential papers through a free event sponsored by the City on Saturday, May 1. The free event takes place from 8 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works (DPW) Yard, 2951 Greenfield Road south of Rotunda Drive.
The limit is a maximum of 50 pounds or five bags or boxes of papers per resident.
This event is open to Dearborn residents only. Proof of Dearborn residency will be required in order to participate.
The General Henry Dearborn Quilting Society is presenting “Quilted Pleasures: a Quilt Show” on Friday, April 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $3.
The exhibits will be displayed at the Dearborn Historical Museum Commandant’s Quarters, 21950 Michigan Ave. at Monroe Street; and the McFadden Ross House, 915 Brady Street.
For more information, call 313.565.3000.
The Dearborn Community Arts Council and Dearborn first lady Christina O’Reilly cordially invite you to the Annual First Lady’s Tea at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course on Telegraph Road. Advance ticket sales are $35.
Proceeds from this very special day benefit the Dearborn Community Arts Council and the Dearborn Senior Services Cultural Arts programming.
Contact the Dearborn Community Arts Council at 313-943-3095 or by email at sgreene@ci.dearborn.mi.us.
This year’s Relay For Life of Dearborn will be held May 1 – 2, from 10 a.m.– 10 a.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue. The event raises funds for cancer research. The public is invited to visit the Relay site and participate in fun, fundraising activities throughout the weekend.
Visit www.relayforlife.org/dearbornmi.
The Dearborn Community Chorus will present its Spring Concert titled “Love Through the Ages” on Saturday, May 1 at 8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Reserved seats are $11 and $8.
The concert features an appearance by the Dearborn Elementary Honors Choir. Visit the box office at 15801 Michigan Avenue or call (313) 943-2354. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.
Basic computer workshops will return to the Henry Ford Centennial Library throughout May. All workshops are free, but advanced registration is required.
Basic Computers will be offered on Monday, May 3 from 6-8:30 p.m. and Friday, May 14 from 2-4:30 p.m.
Internet Basics will be offered on Friday, May 7 from 2-4:30 p.m. and Monday, May 17 from 6-8:30 p.m.
E-mail Essentials will be offered on Monday, May 10 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Registration for each class begins one week prior to the class meeting.
Visit or call the HFCL Adult Reference Desk at (313) 943-2330 to register or for more information.
The Dearborn Department of Economic & Community Development is now accepting applications for its First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program. The program allows lower-income persons or families to purchase a newly renovated Dearborn home, which was once foreclosed.
The program offers the ability to subsidize the mortgage principal amount so that house payments will be affordable. And, the homeowner might quality for $5,000 towards the down payment or the closing costs.
An interested person must: be a first-time homebuyer, complete a HUD counseling program, be “mortgage ready,” and have annual household income that is at or below 120 percent of area median income. Other eligibility requirements will apply.
The City of Dearborn may have eight or more foreclosed properties to offer. Call the Dearborn Economic & Community Development Department at (313) 943-2180, extension 7.
Pool tags
Pool tags, good for admittance to the city’s eight outdoor pools, are now on sale at the service desk of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.Resident costs: Preschool, $15; Youth (17 and under), $35; Adult (18 and over), $45; Senior Citizen (60 and over), $35; Family (both parents and all children under the age of 18), $100.
Summer swim lessons
Dearborn residents may now register at the service desk of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center for summer swim lessons, conducted at the outdoor pools. Purchase of a swim tag is required. Cost: $40 for residents.
Summer camp
Registration is also underway for Summer Camp at The Center. Eight, one-week sessions—running Monday through Friday—are offered, beginning June 21. Cost for residents: $160/week, less for The Center passholders.
Ice Show May 1 and May 2
Tickets are on sale at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center for this year’s ice show. Cost: $5 for children (11 and under) and seniors (60 and over) and $8 for adults. Shows are May 1 at 1 and 7 p.m. and May 2 at 3 p.m.
DSO concert April 24
Dearborn Symphony Orchestra in concert, April 24 at 8 p.m. at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at the theater box office. 943-2354.
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