City of Bedford Heights

Overview

The City of Bedford Heights has a long and proud heritage in the extension of public service initiatives within the City. Even in its earliest years, named "The Service City" consecutive administrations have prioritized and utilized a premier service extension both in municipal extension and community outreach.

The Public Works/Service Division hosts its headquarters at 25401 Solon Road in Bedford Heights. Under the leadership of Director Nick Baucco the Department of Public Service does an outstanding outreach within the community, not limited to:

• Free bee and wasp spraying/removal
• Free branch chipping
• Free leaf removal
• Free mulch
• Hazardous tree removal, tree planting
• Landscaping municipal grounds features such as flags, planters, flower baskets
• Overseeing recycling initiatives
• Snow plowing
• Street maintenance
• Table and chair loan
• Truck loan initiative

To most efficiently serve the community in this extensive outreach many of the above initiatives are seasonal programs. Contact the Public Service Director at 440-232-8832 for further information on program parameters. Notice that there are additional postings on this web page for your convenience.

Curbside Recycling

The City sponsors a curbside recycling program that is administered through our Department of Public Service. Residents are urged to assist in the effort. Recyclable trash can include glass bottles, cans, plastic bottles and some other plastic items. The City separates recyclable paper and cardboard; glossy papers, such as magazines and flyers frequently observed in newspapers or mailing advertisements should be separated from these items. Paper items are to be placed curbside tied in bundles or neatly stacked in paper bags. Recycled items are to be set out simultaneously and placed next to regular refuse for collection on Friday (streets North of Columbus) and Thursday (streets South of Columbus).

In determining what plastic items are included in the city recycling policy look for imprinted logos designating plastic types as 1, 2 or 6. Note that items such as Styrofoam packing materials, motor oil containers and glossy general mail are not recyclable. Please find other uses for these items or discard them with your regular trash packaging.

Every household in the City was issued an 18 gallon green recycle bin. All of the recyclables are to be placed in the bins and then the bin placed next to the regular rubbish. The residents can also still use the blue bags for any additional recyclables. Trash bags can be purchased at the Service Department and the Community Center. If you are in need of a recycling bin please call the Service Department at (440) 232-8832.

From time to time the city hosts mass collection of recycling items such as phone books at the Community Center (June and July), used tires without rims at the Public Service Garage (September), and toxic substances such as oil-based paints, pesticides, gasoline, anti-freeze and paint thinners (May and November). If you have questions about recycling, please contact the Department of Public Service at 440-232-8832 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. for further information.

Trash Disposal

The current contract for trash pickup in Bedford Heights has allowed the city to continue this program for Bedford Heights’ residents and city facilities without charging an additional personal user fee; yet there are some program parameters expected to be followed by participants; such as:

Garbage is to be neatly and completely bagged and whenever possible placed in cans curbside so as to not attract wildlife or compromise public health or the appearance of the neighborhood.

Items placed curbside for pickup are not to be put out earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the evening immediately before the rubbish pickup day. With the occasional exception of a few holidays or other circumstances the city will announce, residents can expect garbage pickup on the North side of Columbus Road and all roads within the Northern half of the city on Friday’s of each week. On these streets, rubbish and recyclables may be appropriately placed curbside Thursday evenings after 6:00 p.m. The South side of Columbus Road and the Southern balance of the community will have Thursday as their charted rubbish pickup day allowing them to set out items after 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.

Private contractors are required to remove construction debris at their own expense. They cannot leave it behind for the city to dispose of properly. Homeowners should be advised that a fee can be charged for removal of items left curbside that fall outside the parameters of the program. Automotive parts, including batteries, tire rims, etc. cannot be left curbside for disposal. This kind of trash must be personally taken to a salvage yard. It is the responsibility of the residents to get their garbage curbside by the time the trucks arrive. As the empty cans are left curbside, the city asked residents to remove them from the tree lawn prior to the end of the day of service.

If residents have a large item to dispose of such as furniture, appliances, etc., contact the Department of Public Service to assure it falls within the parameters of the program. Remember to remove doors from cabinets, refrigerators, etc. when setting them outside. No items should conflict with public safety. The city encourages recycling and requests recycled goods be placed outside, set apart from other garbage/rubbish as noted in the recycling portion of this web page.

Failure to follow this policy especially, but not limited to, premature placement of garbage curbside can lead to the resident being fined for noncompliance. For questions contact the Department of Public Service at 440.232.8832.

Tool Loan Program

Wanting Bedford Heights homeowners to have every advantage of maintaining strong property values, the City of Bedford Heights has been proud to continue a Tool Loan Program which allows residents to access tools they may only seldom need or perhaps to accommodate residents when your own are not functioning. Tools are offered on an as available basis for a period of 24 hours. Proper identification, proof of residency and payment of a refundable deposit are required. To reserve a tool, or to check on the availability of a tool, please call the Public Service Garage at 440-232-8832.
Tools are carefully maintained and serviced and consequently the city asks participants to use care and return tools clean, on time and with regard for the needs of fellow community members.

At the time of this posting, our tool loan inventory includes:
Appliance dolly Post hole digger Extension ladder Rototiller
Axe Sledge hammer Hedge trimmer Thatcher
Ladder Tile cutter Lawn edger Lawn Mower
Power washer Weed eater (electric) Leaf blower Tree trimmer
Wheelbarrow

Free Branch Clipping From mid-spring to mid-fall, the City of Bedford Heights Department of Public Service offers free branch chipping to residents. The branch chipper normally operates on Columbus Road and streets to the North on Mondays. Service is provided to streets South of Columbus Road on Tuesdays. Branches from trees and shrubs should be orderly placed on tree lawns for chipping on these respective days. Branches should not be tied. The cut ends should be placed facing toward the curb. Dirt and other debris should be removed from the roots of shrubs and piles for collection.

Household trash, rope, wire and other foreign materials should not be mixed in with branches.

As with its recycling and rubbish removal, the city expects residents' careful compliance with the parameters of this program. Branches are not to be left over a period of days prior to pickup.

Insect/Rodent Control

The Department of Public Service offers the free removal of bees and wasps nests on exterior surfaces for residential homeowners. (Because of ownership issues, the City is not able to extend this service to apartment buildings, mobile home parks or condominium procedural settings). Residents wanting assistance with such pest removal will be asked to identify the nesting area of specific pests the time of their complaint. For problems with larger animals such as domestic animals, or skunks and raccoons, residents need to inquire about the service of the Animal Warden via the Police Department (non-emergency number) 440-786-3222.

For more information on removal of bees, wasps, etc., phone the Department of Public Service at 440-232-8832 or 440-786-3200.

Table/Chair Loan

Our Department of Public Service has 50 rectangular tables and 500 folding chairs to assist residents' special event needs. These can be loaned to residents for use within the City exclusively. A refundable deposit, proper identification and proof of residency are required. The City requests that program participants follow parameters of the program and return all borrowed items within the agreed upon time and in good condition. Please take care not to leave these items where they will be subject to inclement weather or where their security cannot be assured.

For reserving or further information, please contact 440-232-8832.

Abuse of the program parameters will result in forfeiture of deposit, non-renewal of program accessibility or other action as deemed appropriate by the City.

Tree Removal

As the City's budget allows, the Public Service Department has an initiative designed to remove hazardous trees from homeowners' property free of charge when certain conditions are met. The City's tree removal program is for city residents only. It does not cover all trees and is not a tree trimming or thinning service. Branch trimming and maintenance are the responsibility of the property owner. Bedford Heights is proud of its long standing status as a Tree City USA and does not initiate removal of live trees so that the property owner can select another type or be free of such tree or lawn maintenance. It is a program designed to remove hazards for public safety.

The following are the general guidelines that are applied in the City's free tree appraisal as applies to this initiative:

• The tree must constitute a hazard to life or property
• The tree must in most cases has to be dead to qualify
• A diseased tree that has undergone efforts to save it
• Tree (roots) causing damage to property such as driveways, sidewalks, garage floors and slabs to homes may qualify
• A tree causing continuous sewer problems (to be documented by the Department of Water Reclamation) may qualify.

A willow tree that is within a reasonable distance to a dwelling that may cause damage to the dwelling may qualify.

The resident is asked to call the Public Service Department with the specific location of what they consider to be a hazardous tree. The City Arborist or an individual appointed by the City Arborist will then inspect the tree to determine if it meets the criteria for removal. Upon the decision of the City Arborist to remove the hazardous tree, the Arborist shall arrange for the removal of said tree by city employees or the use of a tree removal service.

To request inclusion in the hazardous tree removal service or request inspection for same, call 440-232-8832.

Hazardous Liquid Removal

Flammable liquids and gases, motor oil, paint, insecticides and other hazardous liquids such as acids and chemicals cannot be disposed of with regular household trash. Whenever possible, these materials should be used up rather than disposed of in the trash. When disposal of such items is necessary, please contact the Public Service garage to determine a legal and safe option for disposal. The Department of Public Service has a special program for this initiative. The phone number during regular hours is 440-232-8832.

Disposal of such items in waterways or the sewer line is especially prohibited. (Further, no other objects, animals or substances beyond normal run-off waters are to enter the sewer/water lines). City Ordinances protect against abuse of such environmental and safety concerns.

Leaf Collection

Our Public Service Department offers free curbside leaf collection for homeowners during the fall. Leaves should be raked out to the tree lawn near the street and left loose in a pile. Yard waste, branches and any kind of household trash should not be mixed in with the leaves as it takes city workers longer to vacuum leaves and may cause damage to city equipment and may therefore necessitate the city's unavailability to service your household.

Do not place leaves in the street or in gutters as this can cause them to do damage or cause accidents. Do not "mash" leaves down with cars or saturate with garden hoses as this makes leaves difficult to remove. Leaf pickup will be posted in the community to identify the program dates of service. Leaf pickup is expected to begin mid-October - through the time the "snow flies".

Truck Loan

The City has a 1-ton dump truck that can be loaned out overnight to help dispose of non-hazardous building materials that cannot be picked up by our private waste hauler. Residents have found this a uniquely helpful option particularly if personally doing any home remodeling with no other means to remove the abundance of material from the home. To keep this program in operation, a fee of $45.00 to cover the disposal cost of the material is passed on to the resident participant. Trucks are loaned as available for overnight use from mid-April through mid-October when not otherwise needed to service the community in the snow season. If residents wish to reserve a truck, City workers will deliver it to their home, lock it up for the night, and then pick it up the next morning after they have loaded their construction debris.

This service is available for the personal use of residential homeowners only. Contractors and builders are responsible for finding their own means of trash disposal. Participants are expected to comply with the parameters of this initiative or be subject to consequence.

For further information, or to reserve a truck, please call the Public Service garage at 440-232-8832.

Streets

The City of Bedford Heights runs an aggressive road repair program and a conscientious maintenance initiative. The City is also consistently in pursuit of grant money to maximize community improvement opportunities. For example from 1999 to 2003, only 20% of what was spent on street repair was from Bedford Heights dollars while 75% was from State and Federal Funds and 5% was from special grant programs.