Public works outlines traffic signal removal, changes to yard‑waste and brush collection and plans glass‑recovery drop‑off

Jeff Baumann, public works staff, updated council on several operational items affecting traffic and recycling services.

Traffic signal at West College and Prospect: Baumann said a citywide signal study completed about five years ago questioned whether the signal was still warranted after the nearby school closed. The signal was placed in flash mode and later bagged for a 60‑day evaluation following a 90‑day flash period; staff reported only one minor crash on the first day of changes and no further accidents during the evaluation. Based on the study and the manual on uniform traffic control devices, public works recommends removing the signal. Baumann said police and fire were notified during the process and staff will continue to coordinate with safety services.

Bagged yard waste pickup: The city will end the subscription requirement for curbside bagged yard‑waste pickup. Crews will canvass the community, pick up bagged waste, record addresses and bag counts, and the city will continue to bill participants annually at the same rate of $1 per bag. The process change removes the need for residents to call to subscribe in advance.

Brush collection schedule change: Instead of the previous four‑week seasonal passes plus a fifth cleanup week, public works will perform brush collection the first week of each month from April through November. The change aims to reduce the time brush piles sit at the curb and limit repeat curbside accumulation. Special service will still be scheduled after major windstorms.

Glass recovery and recycling drop‑off site: Staff described plans to open a glass drop‑off and expanded recycling site using a gravel lot at the southeast corner of Oberlin Road and Hill Creek Drive (an EDL‑staged lot). The glass crushing machine will remain at the city’s refuse/recycling facility (it requires 208 three‑phase power) rather than at the drop‑off lot; staff said crushing is loud but will be located within or adjacent to the locked facility to limit impacts. The city will also relocate an Abitibi paper retriever dumpster to the site and may accept cardboard and scrap metal. Staff said they plan to start the drop‑off service in about a month and will publicize hours and rules; they emphasized a cautious approach to avoid turning the drop‑off into an unmanaged dumping site.

Baumann told council the proposed signal removal followed engineers’ guidance and crash‑report analysis; he noted the engineering recommendation did not support converting the intersection to a four‑way stop because traffic volumes on College Street exceed those on Prospect. Councilmembers asked about speed citations and noise from glass crushing; Baumann said speed was not a factor in the recorded crash and that the crushing operation will be sited to limit neighborhood noise.