I’m happy to see the city planning to take action before this becomes an issue that drags on.  Please read the message below to learn of Milwaukee’s cleanup plan as we enter the spring season, and learn how you can be a good citizen by keeping Milwaukee clean.

The 2007-08 Winter has not had periodic melts which would normally allow residents to clean their yards throughout the winter.  Litter and pet wastes have accumulated and been covered by snow.  The upcoming thaw will reveal these items.

Besides being unsightly, adverse health conditions can occur if litter and pet wastes are not removed.  Beginning on Monday, March 17th, the City of Milwaukee will engage in an aggressive campaign to inspect and clean properties.

The City cannot do this alone.  All City residents are asked to clean their yards and remove litter and pet waste.  Bag the litter and debris and place it in the garbage cart.

If the amount of items does not fit in the collection cart, please take them to the self-help stations located at either 6660 N. Industrial Rd. or 3811 W. Lincoln Ave.  Current hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 7:00am-3:00pm.  Spring and summer hours will begin April 6th: Monday-Saturday 7:00am-6:00pm and Sunday 9:00am-3:00pm.

Inspectors from the Department of Neighborhood Services will be out in neighborhoods soon and will issue orders for garbage nuisances.   Please be part of the solution to this year’s litter issue:  clean up your yard.   Property owners are ultimately responsible for the yards of the properties they own.  Please save yourself the expense of requiring the City to have your yard cleaned. If it is in your yard, it is your responsibility no matter who left it there.

Consider organizing a neighborhood or block clean-up.  Contact Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful at 272-5462 for more information,  supplies and reward cards.  This would be a great opportunity to assist elderly or infirm neighbors who have difficulty cleaning their own yards.

Thank you for helping clean up Milwaukee. 

Enjoy Spring!

Worried about all kinds of potholes you’re seeing (and feeling) on the road?  The Milwaukee Department of Public Works is starting early this year to repair potholes with seasonal workers.  Cyclists and motorists alike rejoice.

As a side note, it’ll cost $120,000 out of the city’s contingency fund.  I don’t drive (read: ride) enough, and haven’t been biking lately to know if this is money well spent.

As a follow-up to my post on Chicago’s Green Alley Program, I did some reading on rubber sidewalks they’re building. That led me to how they’re making their bus stops solar powered (we’re talking the three-sided ones, not the poles in the ground).

About 100 solar shelters will be installed next year by the company that has the contract for shelter advertising. The installation will save the city an estimated $20,000 in electricity costs every year, according to Heramb.

I don’t know if they’ve considered this, but what if you turned these solar powered bus stops into a decentralized grid of power centers?  Why stop at just powering the light at the bus stop?  Why not power all the street lights on the block?  Why not power the new electronic parking meter LUKE too?

Imagine all Department of Public Works property throughout the city of Milwaukee being powered by a money-saving distributed network of solar panels on top of MCTS bus stops.
I would imagine Milwaukee could save a lot of money doing this and improving on an idea started by our friends to the south.