Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
No matter when the winter storms come, Warsaw Street Department Superintendent Lacy Francis said his workers and equipment will be ready to remove snow and ice from the city streets.
Until the snow makes its way to Warsaw, Francis will focus on the city's leaf removal, which has become somewhat complicated after the strong winds experienced Saturday and Sunday.
Francis said removal will be taking place up until the first winter storm, and urged residents to place leaf piles on top of curb sides rather than in the streets.
"There have been cases of residents blatantly blowing leaves into the streets, which is bad for neighborhoods," Francis said. "If leaves end up clogging storm drains, then we have water problems on our hands.
"If people could leave the piles on their curbs, or even on the edge of their lawn, it'll save everyone a lot of headaches."
With current conditions at the department, residents will experience a 10-14 day turn-around after leaves are initially picked up.
"If large piles are accumulated right after we make a run in an area, then people might want to think about laying a tarp over the leaves or spraying them with water to weight them down," Francis said. "That way if we get more of those strong winds, we won't have a huge mess."
Francis also said scrap wood was available at the department's mulch site for residents needing firewood over the winter months.
"Anyone who can come in and prove they're a Warsaw resident can take as much as they want," Francis said.
Those interested should contact the department's office and be aware that available wood will be uncut and should be checked adequately before used. One hazard is the possibility that wood could be filled with concrete, something people used to fill-in dead spots in trees.
During the autumn months, the department will focus on autumn affairs, but the upcoming winter months are not far from Francis's mind.
"We've been short on water lately, and things always seem to balance out," he said. "I think we're going to get hammered this winter, but no matter when it comes or how much of it comes, we'll be ready to take care of it."
