The leaf clean up season is here and Clinton City crews have already been making the rounds.

Public Works Director Steve Lobb says this is one of the busiest times of the year for their crews and leaf cleanup is an effort that at times can be the only thing they have time for.

Leaf cleanup season comes and goes in a pretty tight window. Lobb explains they bring on two additional part-time employees and he calls it intense in the thick of the cleanup but then quickly calms down.

Residents putting their piles in the streets is not helpful for city crews and can actually create a driving hazard for passing motorists. Lobb says to get the piles out to the curb or up against the street and that will allow crews the easiest access and ability to get in and out and on their way.

According to Lobb, they divide the city up into five zones and they just go one zone at a time until they finish and move on. At the peak of the busy time, he says they may only get to one zone at a time and the weather can also hold them up.

Lobb says generally their crews are generally through the whole city within a week. He realizes sometimes the wait isn't ideal but they work from start to finish and do as much as they can each day during the leaf clean up season. 

He encourages a visit to clintonillinois.com to find a map of the five zones of the city and frequent updates on the location and plans of city crews for a particular day.