The Department of Public Works delivers a wide range of services that help define the quality of life for the citizens of Brownsville. Our employees work to help meet the health, safety and welfare needs of the community. This department consists of: Street - Maintain streets and sidewalks Storm Water Maintenance Program Sanitation - Behind house pick up twice a week City Beautiful - Maintain our botanical park and historic downtown Cemetery - Maintenance Recycle Program Leaf Pickup - Oct 1st - March 31st Some of the above services require request be made to City Hall.

Public Works Director Bobby Mayor

• Each owner, occupant or renter shall provide adequate (one or more) legally authorized refuse containers (garbage cans with tops).
• Each legally authorized garbage can with top shall have a capacity of not less than 20 gallons or more than 32 gallons.
• The refuse containers shall be strong, durable and rodent and insect proof.
• Each garbage can must be covered with top at all times to keep out flies, roaches, vermin, insect vectors, mice, rats and other animals, such as dogs and cats.
• All types of household food stuff and food products, such as meats, eggs, beans, corn, uneaten food, table scraps, as well as dirty soiled baby diapers, must be placed in a plastic bag and tied securely before placing in garbage can.
• No refuse, garbage or any other matter shall be placed in the garbage can until the can has been drained of all liquid matter (rainwater, etc.).
• No plastic bags of garbage outside of cans will be picked up.
• No garbage will be picked up that has been placed in a large plastic or metal barrel - 40 -55 gallon. They are illegal for garbage cans.

This ordinance set forth requirements on how materials should be prepared for curb side pickup by the Brownsville Sanitation and Street Departments.

• GRASS - Grass clippings must be bagged at all times before placed for curb side pickup.
• LEAVES - Leaves can be placed at the curb side unbagged during the period 1, October through 31, March. All leaves must be bagged for curb side pickup from 1, April through 30, September.
• BRUSH/LIMBS - Brush/limbs will be placed at the curb side separate from all other materials. Brush/limbs will be no longer than eight (8) feet in length and twelve (12) inches in diameter.

VIOLATION TO THE ABOVE ORDINANCE IS SUBJECT TO A $15.00 FINE PER DAY AFTER PROPER NOTIFICATIN BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

The City of Brownsville provides a recycling program to the citizens of Brownsville. Blue recycle bags can be picked up at City Hall during office hours. Each household is allowed one roll of bags per month. Place the following items in these bags:

• Aluminum cans
• Newspaper
• Plastic containers

Then place the bags at curbside for pickup on your regular garbage day.

The City of Brownsville strives to keep our Stormwater as clean and free of contaminates as possible. The city and county have made tremendous efforts over the last 25 years to clean up local natural water sources by controlling pollution from industries and sewage treatment plants. The current greatest source of water pollution is nonpoint sources. Nonpoint sources (NPS) of water pollution are caused by rainfall, snowmelt or irrigation moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural pollutants resulting from human activity, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater. NPS pollution is associated with land management practices involving agriculture, mining and urban runoff. The most common NPS pollutants are sediment and nutrients. Other common NPS pollutants include pesticide, pathogens, salts, oil, grease, toxic chemicals and excess fertilizer.

Brownsville protects its groundwater by striving to keep itsstreets as clean and litter-free as possible. Public Works employees do this with a street sweeper and knuckleboom that pick up limbs, trash and debris. City crews also regularly check and clean the grates for storm sewers. We also have a program for curbside leaf collection. These services, that make Brownsville a unique and resident-friendly place to live, also serve to keep pollutants from our groundwater. The city's building department also closely monitors construction sites. They ensure that sufficient silt fencing is present to prevent silt from running down streets and gutters into the storm drains.

The City of Brownsville has set up a hotline that you can call if you see any illegal dumping or have any concerns about Stormwater runoff. Please call 731-772-1218.

For information on Stormwater issues, please contact Anne Bridgewater, 111 North Washington Avenue, City Hall, Brownsville, TN 38012, 731-772-1212, abridgewater1@bellsouth.net

Clean water begins at home…

Did you know that water from storms picks up pollutants and transports them through city Stormwater drains? This runoff is then deposited in area streams. Typical runoff pollutants in suburban areas are:

• Household chemicals
• Pesticides
• Yard Waste
• Cleaning Agents
• Trash
• Grease
• Salt and sand
• Auto Products
• Excess nutrients (from lawn fertilizers and pet waste)

To help keep our waters safe you can:

• Never dump anything down storm drains
• Check vehicles for leaks
• Recycle used motor oil
• Pick up after your pet
• Minimize pesticides
• Wash cars on grass instead of the street or even better, take them to a carwash
• Follow directions on fertilizer labels
• Plant grass or plants on the bare spots in your lawn
• Compost your yard waste
• Sweep up driveways and sidewalks, do not sweep into the street
• Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces