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Department of Public Works

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Contact

2378 Elmwood Avenue
Kenmore, New York  14217
Phone: (716) 875-0527
Fax:     (716) 447-0256

Hours

7:00 AM – 3:00 PM, M-F
Excluding Legal Holidays

Trick or Treat is 10/31 from 6 - 8 PM. Week of 10/27 - BLUE Recycle Week. Early Voting in the Municipal Building through 11/3. Leaf Collection has begun. Place leaves in the area between the curb and sidewalk for collection or in your tote. DO NOT place leaves in the street.

The Department of Public Works maintains the Village’s streets, including road repair, repaving, street cleaning and snow removal.  In addition, the Department inspects and repairs the Village water lines, performs tree trimming and removal, and maintains street signs.  Garbage and recycling pick-up is also performed by this Department.

In the event of High Winds (over 60 mph) – do not put totes to the curb.  If totes are at the curb, be sure to return them from the curb as soon as possible.  Make sure the lids are closed.

David Root
Superintendent of Public Works
droot@vi.kenmore.ny.us

James Scholl
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works
jscholl@vi.kenmore.ny.us

Water Leaks and other Water-related Problems

If you are experiencing low water pressure or back up of water, please contact the Department of Public Works between 7 AM and 3 PM.  If a water problem occurs after regular office hours, please contact the Kenmore Police Department (716) 875-1234.  The Village will inspect to ascertain whether the problem is attributed to a Village lines or if the problem must be corrected by the property owner.

Winter Parking Ban

November 15 – March 15. The Ban is not based on the weather. No parking on Village Streets 2 AM – 6 AM, unless otherwise directed.

You should always assume the ban is in place, despite the weather, unless you receive specific updates from the Village to the contrary.  Updates will be posted only on the KPD Face Book page and on this website under the “Announcement Banner” at the top of the page in red.

Fall Leaf Pickup

Please rake and pile leaves to the green space located between the curb and the sidewalk for DPW pick up. DON’T rake leaves into the street as this can cause flooding. Leaves can also be placed in your tote, clear plastic bags and open containers. The DPW generally starts leaf collection in mid-October. Once leaf collection has started, you can also place leaves onto the grass area between the curb and sidewalk for pick up. Leaf Collection generally ends in December.

Garbage and white pick-up (appliances and large items) takes place once a week on your assigned garbage day.

Residential Garbage and recyclables are to be placed at the curb no later than 7 AM on the morning of collection and no earlier than 4 PM on the day before garbage pickup.

Commercial Garbage is placed at the curb no later than 9 AM on the day of collection and no earlier than 6 AM of the scheduled pickup day.

Violators will be ticketed if garbage or recyclables are not placed to the curb in accord with these rules.  If you need to place garbage or recyclables out to the curb in advance of these required time frames, you will need to contact the Department of Public Works as soon as possible.

All Village properties are required to utilize standardized, approved trash and recycle totes. Single family homes are required to have at least 1 refuse tote and doubles are required to have two, whether or not one or both units are vacant.  The 95 gallon refuse tote holds the equivalent of 3 garbage cans.  Lids must remain closed.

Recycle Totes are 65 gallon containers.  Lids must be closed.

THE VILLAGE DOES NOT COLLECT ELECTRONIC WASTE (e-WASTE).   RESIDENTS CAN DISPOSE OF THESE ITEMS AT COUNTY-SPONSORED COLLECTION SITES OR AT THE STORE WHERE THE ITEM WAS PURCHASED.

E-Waste includes computers, printers, copiers, monitors, keyboards, speakers, mice, cables, TVs, VCRs, UPSs, surge strips, scanners, digital cameras, MP3 players, and software.

HOLIDAY PICK-UP SCHEDULE

The Department of Public Works will not be picking up trash (garbage or recyclables) on the following days:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • President’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
  • Veteran’s Day * 
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas

* If Veterans Day falls on a FRIDAY, trash collection will NOT change.  Please leave your trash out on your regular pick-up day.

If your trash day falls on one of these days, your trash pickup will be delayed by one day*.  For example, if one of the above days falls on Wednesday and your trash pickup day is Wednesday, then your trash will be picked up on Thursday.  In addition, the trash collection for the days following that day, will also be delayed by one day.  Again, using the example above, Thursday trash collection will be on Friday and Friday pick up will take place on Saturday.

When trash collection falls on one of the “Monday Holidays” listed, trash collection will be delayed one day throughout the week.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Village collects trash on Good Friday.

Recycle Information

The Village requires that you place all of your recyclables into a Village issued Recycle Tote.

Recycle collection takes place every other week, on your regular collection day, using a Recycle Tote.

Please note:  We cannot collect any trash that is placed in your recycle tote.  Only place recyclables in your Recycle Tote.

Pickup will depend on where your street is located, either blue zone or yellow zone.  While trash will be picked up every week, recycle collection will be on your trash collection day, but alternating weeks depending on whether your street is located in the blue or yellow zone.

DO NOT place any trash/garbage inside the Recycle Tote.  We will be unable to collect trash from a Recycle tote and we cannot collect recyclables which are co-mingled with garbage.

The Village no longer accepts recyclables from a blue bin. These bins are recyclable and can be placed next to your recycle tote for collection, or you can keep the bin for your own use.

Replacement Information

REFUSE/GARBAGE TOTES.  Additional or replacement refuse totes can be purchased for a cost of $60/unit (both 60 gallon and 95 gallon size).  Totes must be paid for before delivery.  Checks will be made payable to “the Village of Kenmore” and delivered to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office.  Be sure to notate your property address and “GARBAGE Tote” on your check.  Once payment is made, a tote will be delivered to your address within 5 business days.

RECYCLE TOTES.  If you would like an additional or replacement recycle tote, the cost is $50/unit.  Recycle totes must be paid for before delivery.  Checks will be made payable to the “Village of Kenmore” and delivered to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office.  Be sure to notate your property address and “RECYCLE Tote” on your check.  Once payment is made, the Recycle Tote will be delivered to your address within 5 business days.

RATS/Rodent Control Information

If you see a rat, immediately contact the Building Department (716/873-5700). A Code Enforcement Officer will be happy to look at your property to confirm the presence of rats on your property, and/or possible habitats or food sources.  The Village of Kenmore does not bait properties, nor do we have authority to enter onto private property without the consent of the owner or other person residing on that property.  Therefore, if rats are suspected, the Village will contact the Erie County Health Department which has this authorization.

You may also contact the Erie County Department of Health directly at (716/961-6800).

Please be aware that, during dry spells, rats become bold as they search for water. You are more likely to see rats out during periods of high temperature and little rain. If you run your sprinkler, be careful not to let water pool on the concrete as this will attract rodents.

You can also help to keep rats out of your neighborhood by following some simple steps:

  1. Keep the lid closed. This simple step will eliminate access to your garbage (a primary rodent food source).
  2. PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET! Pick up any animal waste in your yard. This is also a food source for rats.
  3. RAISE ANY WOOD PILES OFF THE GROUND! Rats like to live in wood piles.
  4. SKIP THE BIRDSEED! Bird seed (and bread) spills over onto the ground attracting rats. Please note that under Erie County and Village law, bird feeders can only be used which are designed to prevent seed from dropping out of the feeder.  Ground feeding of animals is not allowed.
  5. CUT DOWN WEEDS. Overgrowth of weeds is a prime harbor for rats. Please cut down weeds located on your property. Typical problem areas include that space behind your garage and around/between fences.
  6. DON’T ALLOW WATER TO POOL/COLLECT, especially during dry spells. Rats are looking for water sources and a puddle area on your driveway or patio will attract them. Do not leave out water for your pets or for birds as this will attract rats, too.
  7. LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE ANY RATS! – Or if you observe your neighbors violating any of the above steps. While the Village cannot bait, we may be able to help identify the source location of the rats and will send out literature to advise your neighbors to the problem and to remind them of steps needing to be taken to get rid of the problem.

If you see a rat, here’s what you should do:

  1. Call the Erie County Department of Health (961-6800).  The County can bait your property.
  2. Call the Building Department (873-5700).  We will inspect the property to see if we can locate the source of the rats.  In addition, we can send out literature to your neighbors to let them know that there has been a rat sighting and what steps they can do to help eliminate the presence of rats in your vicinity.

Rat problems have plagued many Western New York communities, including Kenmore.  The Village of Kenmore was one of the first to address this problem through the introduction of standardized refuse totes.  You can help to rid our community of rats by keeping your refuse tote lid tightly closed.  In addition this helps to keep trash dry which reduces the cost of garbage collection and dumping.  Garbage is a prime food source for rats, so please keep your refuse tote lid closed!  You can also help eliminate rodent food sources by not using bird feeders, promptly picking up animal waste and by removing wood piles and other shelter areas for rats.  Working together we can make Kenmore safer and cleaner!