March 31, 2011
March 30, 2011 - The City of Omaha’s 2011 yardwaste collection season begins on April 4th. Citizens are reminded to place their yardwaste in trash cans marked with “YW” on both sides or in special yardwaste paper bags. Yardwaste should be placed within five feet of the curb by 6 a.m. on regular collection days. There is no limit to the amount of properly prepared yardwaste that can be collected.
Initially, yardwaste will be collected and taken to the landfill for disposal. This temporary action will be done to limit the amount of brown, leafy-waste stored by the City. These actions will be beneficial to the landfill and will encourage methane gas production, which will then be captured and used to fuel electric generators.
Since 1996, the Public Works Department has operated a composting facility where yardwaste is processed to produce OmaGro, a high quality soil amendment. OmaGro is sold by the City of Omaha in wholesale and retail markets in both bulk and bagged forms. More information on OmaGro can be found at www.OmaGro.org .
The process by which OmaGro is produced requires careful blending of green (grass) and brown (leaf) wastes. Over the last several years, Omaha residents have been generating more brown, leafy-waste than is needed to mix with the grassy waste. Currently, the City’s storage site for leaves remains filled from last Fall’s collection.
This modification to Omaha’s yard waste collection and processing program will require no changes for residents. As Spring advances and mowing season progresses, collected yardwaste will be directed to the composting facility. Additionally, the modifications will not decrease the amount of OmaGro that is produced or available for purchase.
March 17, 2011
March 17, 2011 – Mayor Jim Suttle is encouraging Omaha residents to work with the Omaha Sister Cities Association (OSCA) in collecting donations on behalf of Shizouka for relief efforts underway in neighboring Japanese communities. “Our sister city, Shizuoka, was spared from the devastation caused by the earthquakes and tsunami north of their community, but are reaching out to friends for help in providing assistance to other cities in the region who were not as fortunate,” said Celann LaGreca, President of OSCA.
“I have been greatly concerned and sadden by the tragedies in Japan,” said Mayor Suttle. “Although the Mayor of Shizuoka, Zenkichi Kojima, assured me this week that his residents are safe, we offered our encouragement and support to them and those in need throughout their country.”
Mayor Jim Suttle with Shizuoka City Council President Nubuo & Shizuoka Vice-Mayor Shimizu on their Visit to Omaha in 2010
The Shizuoka Committee of OSCA is providing the people of Omaha, interested in contributing to relief efforts in Japan, a way to provide humanitarian assistance. The Omaha Sister City Association is authorized to collect checks for a tax-deductible donation that will be exchanged into yen and mailed directly to the Japanese Red Cross on Wednesday, April 13. OSCA is asking individuals to make their checks out to the Omaha Sister Cities Association (OSCA) marked “for Japan” and mail them to OSCA, P.O. Box 241693, Omaha, NE 68124.
Last week the Omaha Sister Cities Association received the 2011 International Humanitarian Assistance Award as a result of its goodwill project to donate and ship two refurbished ambulances and stretchers to the Omaha sister city of Xalapa, Mexico.
February 24, 2011
February 24, 2011 – Mayor Jim Suttle will be in Lincoln today testifying in favor of Omaha Senator Heath Mello’s bill, which returns sales tax revenues collected by the state to the community sewer revenue funds of Omaha and Plattsmouth, as well as Pottawattamie Sarpy and Douglas County. These municipalities currently share the financial burden of a CSO (combined sewer overflow) program which is an unfunded mandate by the federal government.
“Although we will continue to vigorously pursue federal funding assistance, significant sewer rate increases will be necessary to fund the design and construction of the various infrastructure improvements without some type of relief,” said Mayor Suttle. “These increased sewer fees are creating a burden on all of our regional ratepayers, residential and commercial. Without assistance in offsetting these costs we could see serious negative impacts on our city’s economy.”
The sales taxes charged to metro Omaha ratepayers will soar over time, tripling between 2011 and 2017 without the adoption of LB 682. “These tax revenues are not part of the state’s revenue projection and would be a state windfall at the expense of already burdened Omaha area wastewater customers,” said Marty Grate, City of Omaha Environmental Services Manager. “The intent of LB 682 is to turn back the sales tax CSO capital improvements in 2013 to ensure that there is no erosion of the tax base, provide opportunities for revenue-neutral assistance across the state, and allow all Omaha customers to benefit.”
LB 682 goes before the Legislature’s Revenue Committee this afternoon at 1:30 in the State Capitol, Room 1524.
February 15, 2011
February 14, 2011 – The City of Omaha’s Public Works Department will be working six days a week for the next month to repair potholes on Omaha’s streets caused by last month’s winter storm. Crews will be working on both major roadways and in residential areas from 3:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with additional hours each Saturday.
“Potholes are appearing due to rapidly melting snow, refreezing during the overnight hours, these last few weeks,” said Bob Stubbe, Public Works Director. “The good news however, is that the unseasonably warm weather we are currently enjoying is melting snow quickly leaving some sections of pavement relatively dry. Dry pavement is not subject to the freeze/thaw cycle that is so damaging to asphalt and concrete.”
The Public Works Department asks drivers to be alert for equipment and personnel working in the street. Drivers should slow their vehicles when driving past road crews.
Potholes may be reported by calling 444-4919, or visit the city’s website at www.cityofomaha.org and select the “Potholes” button on the right side of the page.
February 4, 2011
February 4, 2011 – Mayor Suttle and key City of Omaha department heads are going to Lincoln today to meet with fourteen Metro Area senators to discuss pending legislation which could have a significant impact on the city’s finances. Contrary to one early news report, the Mayor is not going to Lincoln to fight state representatives but instead to forge a partnership to keep Omaha financially stable.
Suttle understands the difficulty the state is going through with an almost $1 billion shortfall. He hopes this meeting with lawmakers will help secure solutions that protect both state and local taxpayers. As the city is responsible for 52% of Nebraska’s total Gross State Product, it is in the interest of all Nebraskans to ensure a financially secure Omaha. The state is important to Omaha, and Omaha is important to the state. Mayor Suttle looks forward to finding common ground with state lawmakers and is hopeful a solution benefiting all Nebraskans can be found.
