Summer is drawing to a close, and autumn is beginning.

Essential considerations for preparing your yard for the upcoming year.

• Avoid blowing leaves, scattering acorns, or placing branches into the ditches. Filling ditches can obstruct storm sewers and potentially lead to flooding. Out of respect, please transport all yard waste to the Green Waste facility situated on the town’s east side.
• Avoid mowing grass onto city streets. It poses a hazard for motorcyclists and bicyclists by making the pavement slippery and can also clog storm sewer drains.
• Do not burn on city right-of-way or in ditches. If you are burning yard waste, please do so on your own property.
• Do not burn garbage or food waste in recreational fire pits.
• Gardens situated on the right-of-way or in ditches must be cleared and restored to their original state after the growing season concludes. If a right-of-way permit was not obtained, it is crucial to secure one for future use to prevent any consequences. Ensure that all items, including stakes, containers, tomato cages, or landscape fabric, are removed. The area should be left as clean, flat ground, free of weeds, with no railroad ties or borders remaining.
• Permits for the right of way are necessary for any work within the right-of-way area, encompassing landscaping activities such as planting gardens, flowers, laying pavers, placing rocks, and constructing driveways.
• Thank you for keeping our community of Orleans and Big Spirit Lake safe and clean.