Members of the Public Works Department of the City of Fairhope, located in the Utility Building at 555 S. Section Street, work night and day to keep various city services running like clockwork and to keep the city beautiful. Included under Public Works are all garbage, trash, and recycling pick up, plus city construction, street repair, mosquito control, the landfill, park grounds maintenance, horticulture, and landscaping. Jennifer Fidler is Director of Public Works; Greg Burroughs oversees streets, sanitation, and construction, Arthur Bosarge oversees horticulture and grounds maintenance, and April Westervelt is the city's Environmental Officer. The public works offices are open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 928-8003.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
ENVIRONMENTAL & ENFORCEMENT
Does the city have an ordinance against junk accumulation? The City of Fairhope enforces Code of Ordinance 12-10, which forbids the accumulation of any debris which may constitute a health or fire hazard. This includes tires, building debris, etc. The City also enforces Code of Ordinance 12-11 which forbids junked vehicles from remaining on city lots. A junked vehicle is defined as one without a current tag OR one that is not able to be driven. Report violations to the Environmental Officer at 990-0192.
HORTICULTURE
What is Fairhope's tree policy? Residents may take down trees on private property without any special permission from the City. However, removal of trees on commercial property greater than 24" in diameter and ANY TREE ON CITY RIGHT WAY must be approved of before hand. Trees cut down on commercial property or on the right-of-way may result in a fine. For more information or to report a dead or diseased tree on public property, please contact Jennifer Fidler, Director of Public Works, 928-8003. You may also view a complete copy of the City of Fairhope Tree Ordinance online at cofairhope.com, under Public works, then horticulture.
How do I report a blind corner, overgrown shrub or tree limb that needs to be cut off the right of way? You may call the Public Works Department at 928-8003.
How often does the City change out its floral displays? Four times per year.
How do I get some of the discarded pulled flowers? Check the city mulch pile (555 South Section Street) periodically; discarded flowers are piled in the Free Mulch pile and are available free of charge to city residents, while they last. The City cannot post an exact schedule of when the flowers will be changed out.
When does the City cut roses at the rose garden? Monday mornings during growing season (May through November)
How often does the city mow park areas and main right of ways? Weekly, all year long
What fertilizers does the city use on a regular basis for landscape maintenance? Osmocote Slow Release
STREETS
Who do I contact for street maintenance, such as potholes and busted sidewalks? The City of Fairhope Street Department works on asphalt and concrete requests monthly. Safety sensitive repairs will be repaired or secured immediately. To make a report, call 928-8003.
When will my street be swept? The City of Fairhope sweeps all main streets weekly. Other streets will be swept on request (for leaves, dirt, etc.). You may call 928-8003 to request your street be swept.
What do storm drains do? Storm drains and culverts allow rain water to drain quickly off of roads and yards, and ultimately, into Mobile Bay.
How can I protect city storm drains? Leaves and debris should never be placed in or near a storm drain, since rain events can cause debris to wash into the drain, clogging it and contributing to flooding. Additionally, chemicals should never be poured or rinsed into a storm drain. Remember "Drains to Bay"...whatever goes in our storm drains, eventually ends up in the Bay.
To whom do I report damaged storm drains? A crushed storm drain is the financial responsibility of the party that damaged it. Please report builder or construction violations or damage to the City of Fairhope Building Department 990-0153. The city will repair a damaged storm drain and bill the party responsible for the damage.
Does the city have a mow ordinance? The city does not mandate that residents mow their lawn, this is the responsibility of the homeowners or neighborhood association.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
What is the City's policy on Trash Collection? City residents currently receive garbage pickup two times per week. Residents North of Fairhope Avenue (including the North side of Fairhope Avenue) are picked up on Tuesday and Friday. Residents South of Fairhope Avenue (including the South side of Fairhope Avenue) are picked up on Mondays and Fridays. Residents should placed bagged garbage and small bulk items in a city issued automated container (call us if you don't have one). Residents are charged $12.80 for garbage collection per container. Place garbage can at right of way of residents own city frontage. Collection begins at 1:00 a.m. the morning of pickup, so place your can out the night before.
Why can't I mix garden pots, plastic bags and non-organic materials with my yard waste? City of Fairhope is encouraging yard waste recycling by picking up organic debris (leaves, straw, grass clippings, limbs) separate from other non-organic material. The yard waste can then be reused either by land reclamation or chipping for mulch. Mulch is available free to city residents. For this reason, Fairhope has "banned the plastic bag" for yard waste recycling. Paper, mulchable bags are available at City Hall and at area vendors for a nominal fee.
What are the specifics on yard waste placement? Yard waste should be placed, separate from inorganic debris, at the city right of way of the residents own city frontage. Do not place debris across the street, on vacant lots or in medians. Furthermore, be careful not to place debris on city streets, in storm drains or in street flumes. Doing so could not only cause traffic hazards, but could contribute to storm drain clogging and ultimately to flooding. To report placement violations, please call the City of Fairhope Environmental Officer at 990-0192.
Does the city promote home composting? The city highly encourages residents to compost organic debris at home! Doing so will not only provide you, the resident, with a free, fertile soil additive, but it will also help our collection services in the long run by reducing the amount of yard waste and kitchen scraps that are disposed of. Note that a healthly compost pile should include leaves, green waste (vegetable trimmings, grass clippings), egg shells, coffee grinds, etc. For more information, check out "Compost to Caladiums" webpage (city website).
What is the City's policy on Garbage collection? City residents currently receive garbage pickup two times per week. Residents North of Fairhope Avenue (including the North side of Fairhope Avenue) are picked up on Tuesday and Friday. Residents South of Fairhope Avenue (including the South side of Fairhope Avenue) are picked up on Mondays and Thursdays. Residents should placed bagged garbage in a can with a lid. Residents are charged $12.80 for garbage collection. Containers larger than 60 gallon may be serviced for an additional fee. All garbage should be bagged up and placed in a container with a lid for collection. Place garbage can at right of way of residents own city frontage. Collection begins at 1:00 a.m. the morning of pickup, so place your can out the night before.
What is the City's policy on Recycling? The City of Fairhope currently has a 47% recycle participation rate. We encourage all residents to participate in curbside recycling, even if you choose just to recycle fiber (paper and cardboard). The City of Fairhope highly encourages recycling fiber and aluminum, which both provide substantial paybacks. Recycling saves landfill space, natural resources (energy), as well as provides revenues for the city. City residents receive recycling pickup one time per week (the same day as trash collection, please call to verify your pickup day, 928-8003). Recycling materials should be sorted for ease of pick-up. The City of Fairhope currently recycles mixed paper, cardboard boxes (broken down), glass containers, plastic jugs, and steel/aluminum cans. There is no fee for recycling collection.
Do I have to have a Recycling bin to participate in Fairhope's curbside recycling program? Although Fairhope City Hall sells stackable recycling bins for $7.50 each, you may also use any marked recycling container. Free recycling stickers are available at City Hall. Please make sure your materials are sorted and not mixed together. You do not need a separate recycling container for each material, as long as materials are not commingled together.
What is the City's policy on box pickup? The City of Fairhope will pick-up your boxes on your scheduled recycling day. Boxes should be broken down, or stacked in a manner which is easily accessible at the right of way. Styrofoam, plastic wrap and any other non-fibrous material should be removed and bagged for garbage pickup. It is permissible to leave packing paper inside the boxes for recycling collection.
What is the City's policy on electronics recycling? The City currently accepts computer peripherals for recycling if you bring them by the Recycle Center at the Public Works warehouse at 555 South Section Street. The Recycle Center drop off is open 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Other electronics can be brought in for garbage disposal. Residents may also place small electronics next to their garbage cans for disposal on their scheduled garbage collection day. This includes TVs not larger than 28". Larger TVs should be brought to the Recycling Center for disposal. Please note that the City of Fairhope also hosts an Electronic Amnesty Day in conjunction with Earth Day each year (usually the middle of April), and electronics can also be brought in at this time for recycling (to include all electronics, not just computers).
MISCELLANEOUS
Is the city responsible for the gulley behind my house? The city is responsible only if the city owns the property. If the property is privately owned then it is the owner’s responsibility. The property owner is responsible for keeping drainage ways and water ways open. The City does not generally remove fallen trees or tree debris in city gulleys unless it is causing a drainage problem.
Who is responsible for the retention ponds in my subdivision? Retention (and detention) ponds within the city are usually the responsibility of the neighborhood association (or homeowners association). City maintains retention/detention ponds in city parks and recreational areas.
Who picks up dead animals on the streets? The City of Fairhope Public Works Department or Police Department will dispatch the Animal Control Officer for dead animal removal on city streets or on city right of way. To make a report, call 928-8003.
What do I do if my street light is out? The City of Fairhope Electric Department changes out and repairs street lights. To report street light outages, call 928-8003.
What do I do about mosquito problems? The City of Fairhope sprays Aqua Reslin, a pesticide used in many communities, every week following your trash and recycling pick-up day schedule. Your neighborhood will be sprayed weekly, generally between 5pm to 9pm and generally beginning in April and ending in late October. You do not have to schedule to be sprayed. However, to be included on Fairhope's "No Spray" list, call 990-0192. City of Fairhope also adds larvicide briquettes to city-owned ditches and detention ponds. Source control is highly recommended; mosquitoes breed well in stagnant pools of water. Make sure to remove all possible breeding sites such as flower pots, old tires, etc. Pools of water such as kiddy pools, garden ponds and bird baths should be changed twice weekly or aerated to prevent mosquito larvae from becoming a predacious adult. Detention or retention ponds owned by the private property owners, including neighborhood associations are the responsibility of the property owners associations. Larvicide tablets are a good way to control the mosquito larvae. For questions, to verify the spraying schedule or to report possible sources of mosquito breeding, call the City of Fairhope Environmental Officer at 990 0192.
If I plan to dig in my yard, whom should I call to locate utilities? Call the Alabama Line Locating Center at 1- 800-292-8525. This is a free service.
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Jennifer Fidler
Director of Public Works
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| Greg Burroughs
Assistant Director of Public Works |
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Arthur Bosarge
Assistant Director of Public Works |
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April Westervelt
Environmental Officer |
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Mark Mitchell
Waste Management Supervisor |
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