Hartselle-Recycling-Calendar-2015
Hartselle’s 2015 Recycling Calendar is shown below. If you have a question about sanitation pickup or containers, visit www.hartselle.org or call Public Works at (256) 773-2643.
Tag: APR15
Helping Neighbors in Need Through Operation Warm
The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes pay utility bills – during both the cold winter months and in the summer, when utility bills can climb due to the summer heat. In Morgan, Cullman and Lawrence counties, LIHEAP funds are distributed by Community Action Partnership of North Alabama. In 2014, Community Action assisted 159 HU customers in paying their utility bills.
“Assistance programs administered by Community Action can be a lifeline to someone on a fixed income during winter and summer temperature extremes,” explains HU Customer Service Manager Terri Harris.
Unfortunately, LIHEAP’s federal funding is not enough to help everyone who needs assistance, and some families with emergency situations may fall out of the program’s income cap. Community and donation-funded programs, such as Operation Warm, help to bridge that gap. Last year, HU customers donated $2,728.10 to Operation Warm; 100 percent of the money donated is used to help people in Hartselle.
Eligible households can receive assistance from Community Action up to twice each year. If you or someone you know needs emergency assistance with a utility bill, you can apply for help from Community Action by calling (256) 260-4050 or making an appointment online at www.northalabamacommunities.org.
Sanitation, Yard Waste & Recycling Notes from the City of Hartselle
Hartselle Utilities provides billing for the City of Hartselle’s sanitation and recycling services, but Hartselle Utilities is not involved in the operations or scheduling for sanitation, yard waste or recycling pickup. HU Customer Service representatives frequently receive phone calls requesting information about sanitation. According to City of Hartselle Director of Public Works Daxton Maze, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
If my regular garbage or recycling pickup falls on a holiday – or if they can’t run because of bad weather – when will my garbage or recycling be picked up?
Changes and updates to any scheduled pickups for sanitation, yard waste and recycling – whether holiday or weather-related – can be found online at www.hartselle.org under the Public Works tab or by calling Public Works at (256) 773-2643. A copy of the normal pickup schedule is also on the City of Hartselle’s website.
My garbage canister was at the street and full – actually overflowing – but the City did not pick it up. Why?
According to City Ordinance 78-43G Pre-Collection Practices, canisters will not be emptied if lids will not close due to excessive trash, yard waste or recycling. (It creates a mess on city streets.)
If a customer needs additional canister space, there are options:
Residential customers can obtain an additional garbage canister for an additional $2.50 per month.
Residential customers can purchase an additional yard waste container for a one-time fee of $80.00.
In an effort to encourage recycling, City of Hartselle residents can request an additional recycling canister at no charge.
Please call the Public Works Department at (256) 773-2643 to request any of these services.
What counts as yard waste?
Only yard waste and landscape debris may be placed in the yard waste canister. This includes limbs, sticks, grass clippings and leaves. All yard waste must be unbagged.
My garbage pickup is always at 11 a.m., but today it ran early and I missed it! How do I know when my canisters need to be out?
Because pickup routes can change, please ensure that canisters are out by six a.m. on the day of service. Public Works encourages residents to pull emptied canisters back off the street as soon as possible to avoid causing traffic disruptions.
Your Hartselle Utilities Account Number Has Changed
Late last year, Hartselle Utilities transitioned from DOS-based to a Windows-based customer management and billing system software. As a result, all previous eight-digit account numbers have been replaced with 12-digit numbers.
“We encourage all of our customers to update your account number in your records,” says Customer Service Manager Terri Harris. “If you use online bill pay through your bank or pay with convenience pay through our website or toll-free number using your old account number, your payment will be rejected.”
Customers of Hartselle Utilities who utilize bank draft as their method of payment do not need to take any action. If you are interested in paying your account by bank draft or would like to discuss this payment option further, please contact Customer Service at (256) 774-3340.
In addition, Harris says, under the new system due dates that are printed on your bill may change slightly. In the past, if a due date fell on a holiday or weekend, the due date printed on the bill would not change even though payments would be accepted, without a penalty, on the next business day. Now, if a due date falls on a weekend or board-approved holiday, the software pushes the due date to the next business day. For example, February 15 fell on a Sunday this year, so bills normally due on the 15th were due on Monday, February 16. “Feb 16 2015” would have appeared as the past due date on your bill.
“A customer has until the end of day printed on the bill to pay their bill, or they can put their payment in the night deposit that evening,” explains Harris.