LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS A resident of South Fairview Street works on their yard this week. The City of Lock Haven is reminding its residents to ensure grass clippings are blown off of roadways and vegetation near sidewalks is kept trim, per its ordinance.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Landscape workers are seen in the middle of cleaning up a property in Lock Haven.

LOCK HAVEN — The City of Lock Haven is requesting residents keep in mind to blow grass clippings off roadways and keep trees near sidewalks trimmed.

During Monday’s council meeting, its members reviewed a memo from Property Maintenance Officer Brian Taylor regarding these requirements.

Taylor said the reminder is to ensure city residents understand their duties when it comes to proper yard maintenance, and the difference between what is the city’s responsibility and the property owner.

The memo notes that grass clippings can pose several hazards and nuisances including:

— Creating slippery conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly motorcyclists and bicyclists.

— Contributes to stormwater drawing blockages, which can lead to localized flooding.

— Causing aesthetic and environmental concerns, as decomposing organic matter can pollute waterways and be detrimental to the local aquatic habitat.

Council touched briefly on these issues while discussing the memo.

Councilmember Steve Stevenson thanked Taylor for putting out the reminder.

“I know we advise city residents in the spring when it starts to become the grass mowing season. But it seems like halfway through they forget,” he said. “It does cause problems with stormwater blockages. All you have to do is sweep it back out of the street.”

Taylor also noted city residents are able to take their yard waste — such as grass clippings and tree trimmings — to the city’s public works building on Second Avenue during business hours.

Both Stevenson and Councilmember Heather Alexander said they’ve been noticing the issue with grass clippings on streets and sidewalks and other unruly vegetation — which goes against the city’s ordinance — in recent weeks.

Mayor Joel Long noted, even if a property owner utilizes a lawn care service that is blowing the clippings into the street, it’s still their responsibility to clean it up.

“The property owner is the one that’s going to be held responsible,” he said, adding a leaf blower or broom can take care of the issue.

“A leaf blower blows it right back in. It could take 15 minutes to walk the length of your property and blow it back,” he said.

In Taylor’s memo, it’s noted grass clippings in roadways are a violation of Chapter 273 of the city’s ordinance. The ordinance notes clippings on sidewalks or roads are considered littering.

City Manager Gregory Wilson emphasized the impact the clippings have on waterways such as the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek. The majority of the city’s stormwater infrastructure feeds to these two waters — the majority being funneled to the river.

“Ultimately those grass clippings go into the river, and Bald Eagle Creek to some degree, and that destroys the fish habitat with nitrogen and phosphorus,” Wilson said.

He recalled a time growing up when he swam in area waterways that were void of fish and the water was murky. However, it’s improved over the years.

“We can’t continue to sustain that if people continue to put grass clippings in the streets that go into the storm drain and go directly into the habitat of the fish,” he said.

Long noted the city also has certain Department of Environmental Protection requirements to adhere to, and this can create issues.

Taylor’s memo also reminded city residents the importance of keeping trees and shrubs trimmed near city sidewalks.

“City residents are also reminded that trees, shrubs or vegetation of any kind must not encroach upon public roadways or sidewalks,” the memo reads.

According to Taylor, trees must be trimmed up to seven feet above walkways and 14 feet for those that hang above city streets.

He said the city’s street crews — particularly regarding the street sweeper — have dealt with damaged equipment due to lower hanging trees over streets.

“It helps our streets and parks department if people keep their trees trimmed up high enough,” he said.

If property owners don’t adhere to the city’s ordinances regarding tree trimming or vegetation, they could face fines of up to $1,000.

And, Taylor said, city crews will have to take care of the issue.