Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:
Question: I went to the fire station this week to get leaf bags, and I was told the city is not providing them anymore. Leaf bags are not provided free of charge anymore? They used to vacuum the leaves, and then they stopped that, and now they don’t even provide bags? They can spend millions on developing the waterfront, but they can’t pick up leaves, or at least provide free bags?
My answer: It would probably be cruel to mention here that city taxes went up again this year.
Real answer: Joey Robison, a communication specialist with the city of Asheville, directed me to a recent city blog posting on the subject. The upshot is the reader is essentially right: No more free leaf bags, although the city will pick up leaves you put out in your own bags.
“For the past four years, the city has supplied citizens with leaf bags, which were available at Asheville Fire stations,” the Asheville City Source blog states. “That has been discontinued for this year. The initiative was an introductory measure used as a transition once leaf vacuum trucks were discontinued in 2011.”
“This year, residents will need to supply their own bags or bins, though they can be used over and over,” it continues. “Paper and plastic bags are available for purchase at most home improvement stores, grocery and department stores. And people can forgo buying bags at all by using clearly labeled bins instead.”
Public Works Director Greg Shuler said on the site that city workers will “do our best to leave bags in a way that minimizes them being blown away by wind or traffic.”
This all comes down to money. In 2011, the city said it would cost some $400,000 to replace its four leaf collection trucks, a figure some residents disputed. In 2011, I wrote that the city ordered 60,000 clear plastic bags at a cost of about $15,000, and that the bagging system saves the city about $100,000 a year.
Robison said the last purchase of 65,000 bags was for $15,437.50 in September of 2013.
So, I supposed this year they’ll save even more.
On a positive note, your plastic and paper bags can also be recycled at the end of the season. “The city accepts paper bags in its recycle bins. Plastic bags can be recycled at many grocery stores and some home improvement stores,” the blog states.
The city blog also helpfully notes that you can turn your leaves in compost, although you’ll have to mulch them up first. Oh, and, “Finally, there are private contractors who will remove leaves for residents.”
That, as you may have surmised, is not free. For a parting shot, the blog offers this nugget: “City residents are reminded that it is illegal to burn brush and leaves within the city limits.”
Enjoy that leaf season, folks!
Question: Yesterday we drove up to Pisgah Inn for lunch and were dismayed to see a huge tour bus and several small buses parked in the lot. The restaurant was overwhelmed with the crowd of people, and the wait for lunch was very lengthy. I was under the impression that commercial vehicles of any type were prohibited from being on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Is there an exception being made?
My answer: On another positive note, the city of Asheville probably would allow you to store your leaves in an old motor coach, as long as they don’t have to pay for it.
Real answer: “Motor coaches, like those used in travel tourism, are permitted on the parkway, and they have been for as long as I know,” said Parkway spokeswoman Leesa Brandon. “It just provides an opportunity for so many folks who would not get to the Parkway otherwise to experience what we love about the parkway and get to experience what we do from our smaller vehicles.”
The parkway’s website states: “Personal vehicles, motorcycles, tour buses and bicycles are allowed; commercial traffic or activity is not permitted.”
The idea is that the parkway should not be used as a shortcut or alternate route for business vehicles.
This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com
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