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2007 Brush & Yard Waste Pick Up
Brush Pick Up
Brush is collected on Tuesdays weather permitting (excluding holidays). To schedule a pick-up, call before 2:00 pm on Monday. Brush is collected FREE from April 24–May 10. After May 10, the following fees apply: 0–5 cu yd ($8), 5–17 cu yd ($20), each 18 cu yd truck load ($30). Stack brush in a neat pile on the boulevard NOT in the street (NO alley pick-up)—butt ends all one way, parallel to the street. Keep brush at least 5 feet away from overhead wires, fences, refuse containers, parked cars, etc. DO NOT put brush in your refuse containers. Only brush that is generated on Hopkins’ residential properties will be picked up. Brush is defined as tree limbs, twigs, and branches up to a maximum of 6-inches in diameter and 15 feet in length. No logs or lumber are accepted.
Yard Waste Pick Up
Yard waste is collected the same day as regular refuse. Pick up is FREE April 23–May 10. After May 10, yard waste bags must have yard waste stickers (available for $2) attached. Yard waste must be bagged—maximum size bag of 55 gallons and maximum weight of 40 lbs. Place yard waste at the normal refuse collection site at least 4 feet away from your refuse and recycling containers. Yard waste is defined as leaves with twig stems no longer than 4 inches, grass clippings, and similar garden waste.
For more information, call 952-939-1382 or visit www.hopkinsmn.com/publicworks/lgbb/brushyardpickup.html.
Hopkins Crossroads To Close In Late April
Hennepin County will soon begin the project to replace the Hopkins Crossroads bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks. This is the second bridge north of the Minnetonka Boulevard intersection and is south of Cedar Lake Road. The project will close Hopkins Crossroads from both directions. The closure is scheduled to be from late April 2007 to mid-November 2007. The Hopkins yard waste/brush drop-off site will remain accessible to residents during the bridge project by using Hopkins Crossroads from the south. Questions on this project can be directed to the Hennepin County project engineer Dan Allmaras at 612-596-0402.
Protect Storm Water Quality In Hopkins
The City of Hopkins is asking for your support with a new storm water quality program mandated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The City now has a way to report any illegal dumping of prohibited materials into the city storm sewer system. Prohibited materials include gasoline, diesel, oil, grease, paint, solvents, and phosphates/fertilizers.
The Clear Water Act of 1972 requires the City to provide a system to monitor and report any illegal discharges into any storm conveyances observed by Hopkins residents.
To report illegal dumping call the Razzle Communication Center at 952 939-1421 or go online to www.hopkinsmn.com/cityhall/razzle.html.
Each year, after property valuation notices are sent out, property owners have an opportunity to discuss their valuation with appraisers. This year Hennepin County, which handles property appraisal for the City, will again be holding its “Open Book” meeting on May 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Hopkins City Hall. This informal meeting lets you meet with appraisers and ask questions about the value of your property.
However, you do not have to wait for this meeting to talk with an appraiser. If you have a question after receiving your valuation notice, call the phone number on the notice and discuss the value with an appraiser. After the Open Book process there will be additional opportunities to appeal valuations through the County Board of Appeal and Equalization and the Minnesota Tax Court.
For more information on this process or to receive information about assessments call 952-548-6310.
The areas to be cleaned in 2007 are Shady Oak Road and all streets and avenues east of Shady Oak Road up to and including 5th Avenue between Excelsior Boulevard and Hwy 7. For more information on the sanitary sewer cleaning program, call the Utilities Superintendent at 952-548-6373 or visit www.hopkinsmn.com/publicworks/watersewer/.
Rain gardens are beautiful areas that attract birds and butterflies, as well as allow rain and melting snow to seep naturally into the ground. This helps recharge aquifers and keeps contaminated water, which pollutes our lakes, rivers, and streams, from running into storm drains.
Rain Garden Workshops, presented by rain garden expert Rusty Schmidt, will teach you how to install a rain garden with native plants, which thrive without fertilizers or pesticides. A $15 registration fee for each session helps to cover the cost. Native Plant and Installation reimbursement grants of $65 will be available by application on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Call Pat Gill, Co-Chair, 612-673-3014. For more information or to register, visit www.metroblooms.org.
Response To Week Of Heavy Snow Stretches Public Works Crews
Two snowstorms separated by five days dumped 12” and 17” on Hopkins during the time span from February 23-March 2. Snow emergencies were called for both storms. During the entire week of the storms and well beyond, Public Works crews were in high gear, doing what they do—plowing streets, Downtown parking lots, and sidewalks and trails, as well as hauling out snow from the Central Business District.
The initial citywide street and alley plowing during a snow emergency is typically finished in 8-10 hours. However, this plowing is only a small part of the total Public Works response. In the most recent storm, Public Works plowed city streets and alleys once during the middle of the storm and then again the next day near the end of the storm. After the street plowing comes several days of early morning Downtown-area snow hauling and clearing snow from sidewalks and trails.
One challenge of heavy spring snowstorms is the frozen, packed-down snow that plows can’t remove during the first citywide plowing. Unlike during the colder winter months, the snow this time of year quickly starts softening and loosening up, freezing into ruts at night and making for difficult driving. This means that streets and alleys must be plowed again, possibly several times before the sun, warmer temperatures, and plows remove it.
Salt helps with the melting, and more extensive use following this storm may have been beneficial due to the unseasonably cold post-storm temperatures. However, Public Works generally tries to minimize salt use other than at intersections and on main city streets and trouble areas, especially in the spring when melt-off is normally only a few days away. At the same time residential streets and alleys are getting messy again, crews are working full shifts in the Downtown area. Typically the Downtown work starts at 2:00 am to avoid traffic and includes loading and hauling snow from Mainstreet, the avenues, and then the parking lots—this can take several days to complete. Plow truck operators from the Water/Sewer Division, Parks/Forestry Division, and a mechanic go out into the residential streets in the afternoons to clear off the softened snow that has built up. The grader is used to scrape down the frozen ruts when possible. Additionally, Public Works is responding to calls to clear trouble areas along sidewalks, alleys, etc.
Throw in a water main break and a main gearbox failure on the Downtown snow blower and you’ve got the makings of an especially challenging week. In spite of the storm, Public Works employees were up to the challenge.
Refuse collection is April 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, and 30-May 3.
Recycling collection is April 2-5, 16-19, and 30-May 3.
2007-2008 Recycling Calendars are in the mail. If you do not receive one, please call 952-939-1382.
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