While fall colors seemed a little late this year, neighborhood trees are now not only changing colors, but dropping leaves across our yards. Did you know that in 2014 over 55,000 cubic yards of leaves were picked up by the City of Naperville in either bags or by vacuuming up piles left at the curb? Looking at it another way, this is the equivalent of a pile more than 60 feet high between the goal lines of a football field!
All of this comes at a cost to taxpayers. Last year’s toll rang up to nearly $1.3 million and this year is expected to be even higher. With the recent City Council penchant for fairness in assessing costs of services, I wonder if a “tree tax” might be in our future similar to the rumored DuPage County “rain tax.”
There is something we can do to reduce City costs while helping our lawns at the same time. Where feasible, consider not raking, but instead mulching. If you don’t already have one, consider investing in a mulching mower (or asking your lawn service to mulch). Mulched leaves return important nutrients to the soil and also add a weed barrier. Given our typical 2-3” of topsoil on a clay base, the more organic material added to our lawns the better. Michigan State University researchers estimate up to 6 inches of leaf cover can be mulched, so this should not be an excuse! Mulching does your lawn and the municipal pocketbook a favor.
Speaking of City services costs, our November meeting will look at Public Utilities and may provide insights into cost changes for power and water. We’ll be in Municipal Center meeting room B beginning at 8AM for coffee and networking on Saturday morning, November 21. I hope to see you then!
