Elm Grove's Dial-a-Dump discontinued for low use

A unanimous vote by the Public Works/Utilities Committee led to the dump of a rarely used village service.

Elm Grove's Dial-a-Dump program was eliminated Monday because of low use and concerns about village liability on private property being cited as reasons for the cut.

The Public Works Department provided a dump truck to take brush to the village disposal site for a $40 charge.

Trucks were dropped off at 3 p.m. and picked up the next morning at 7 a.m.; residents loaded trucks themselves with brush after trimming their own trees and shrubs.

Richard Paul, Jr., director of public works, told the committee the weight of new trucks could cause damage to private property, a risk the village cannot afford to take.

"We're talking 26,000-plus-pound commercial vehicles in a resident's driveway that could cause damage to the driveway," Paul said. "Also, access to the back of the trucks is more hazardous than the older ones."

Paul also said that residents would put trash in the trucks, which was not in line with the intended use of the program.

Only five residents had used the program last year, Village Manager Dave DeAngelis said.

For a $60 alternative, residents can bring their brush to the curb for a special pickup, Paul said, leaving commercial trucks on the street and not on private property.

Residents also can wait for the village to pick up brush during its three scheduled pickups between April and October each year, or use the Public Works Yard, 900 Wall St.

Committee member Patrick Kressin and chairman John Meser were excused from Monday's meeting.