I need a building permit. Who do I call? Please contact the Permits Clerk at Planning and Development at 483-7672.   How do I obtain an address for a vacant lot I just purchased? An address will be assigned to your proposed building at the time you or your contractor requests a building permit and one is issued. Building permits are issued through Building Safety Office located at 316 N. Capitol Avenue. A permit clerk can be reached at 483-7672.   I want to display a banner on a skywalk or over a street. Do I need a permit? Yes, a permit must be acquired prior to installing a banner or any sign within or over a public street right-of-way. The banner cannot interfere with overhead traffic control devices (10 feet minimum distance) and must not protrude lower than the bottom of the skywalk or must have an 18 feet minimum bottom height above the street. Also, the banner shall not promote merchandizing, resemble traffic control devices, nor include flashing lights that may distract motorists. The Public Service Department Permits Engineer may be contacted at 483-4455 for obtaining a permit and for obtaining information regarding additional requirements.   I heard that bulk trash stickers are free to low income individuals. How do I know if I am low income? How do I obtain this sticker? Households qualifying as low income are eligible to receive bulk trash stickers without having to pay the current fee. Single person households with incomes less than $22,600 may qualify. This amount is greater depending on the number of household members, and increases to 42,500 for an 8 person household. Proof of qualifications, such as a check stub, social security statement, or Bridge Card, Medicaid Health Card, unemployment statements, tax forms, etc., must be presented before stickers will be provided to you. Please be prepared to provide your name, address, and phone number along with the description of the item(s) for which the stickers will be used. We urge you to call Public Service at 483-4455 for verifying your eligibility as a low income household. Should you qualify, you are allowed two bulk stickers per calendar year (January 1 to December 31), per household. The stickers are available from the Public Service Department, 7th floor of City Hall, located at 124 W. Michigan Avenue. In the Spring of 2005, the location to pick up the low income stickers will be moved to the Operations and Maintenance Administrative Office at 601 E. South Street. Households not qualifying as a low income may purchase bulk trash stickers at many stores in the Lansing area including most Kroger, L&L, Meijer, and Shop Rite, or the City Hall Treasurer's Office. The current fee rate during 2004 is $31.   My neighbors have a lot of trash all over his yard and it makes the neighborhood look unsightly. What can you do about this? The City is authorized to enforce the cleaning up of trash. If the trash is within your neighbor's private property (i.e. the front lawn), Code Compliance should be contacted at 483-4361. If the trash is within the street right-of-way between the curb and sidewalk, the Public Service Department should be contacted at 483-4400. The City's enforcement officer will address the situation.   The sidewalk in front of my house is uneven. Will the City come fix it? The adjacent property owner is generally responsible for the maintenance and repair of the sidewalk. You may report the uneven sidewalk to the Public Service Department at 483-4455. An inspector will be dispatched to see if an asphalt patch needs to be installed to temporarily smooth uneven sidewalk area to help prevent a trip hazard.   How do I know if the sidewalk in front of my house is scheduled for eventual replacement by the City? The City has a sidewalk replacement program that spans over many years as funding becomes available. You can contact the Assistant City Engineer at 483-4455 to see if your sidewalk is scheduled for replacement. When the City replaces sidewalk, the adjacent property owner may be responsible for paying an assessment for the replacement. For additional information, contact the Public Service Department at 483-4455.   I would like to repair my sidewalk. Do I need a permit? Yes. A sidewalk permit may be obtained for free from the Public Service Department on the 7th floor of City Hall or you may contact the Public Service Department at 483-4455 for additional information.   My neighbors haven't shoveled their sidewalk yet. Can you make them do it? Citizens have 24 hours after snow stops falling to clear their sidewalks. If it has stopped snowing and you have a complaint, please call the Public Service Department at 483-4455 with the address where the snow covered sidewalk is located, the business name (if applicable), and any other useful information. Your neighbor will be given notice to clear the sidewalk within 24 hours. If the sidewalk has not been cleared within this time, a violation may be issued. Disabled/low income residents may qualify for snow removal assistance. Contact Christo Rey Community Center at 372-4700.   The snow hasn't been removed from the Downtown sidewalks. Who do I contact? The downtown sidewalks are maintained by the Principal Shopping District (PSD), phone number 487-3322. Sidewalks adjacent to City parks are cleared by the Parks Department phone, number 483-4277.   My street isn't plowed yet! Public Service Department snow removal crews follow a priority for snow removal. The state highways and arterials, such as Cedar Street, Martin Luther King Blvd. Jr., Saginaw Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Aurelius Road are given first priority; major streets, such as Washington Avenue and Pleasant Grove are given second priority. Local streets are third priority and plowed if the snowfall is 4" or more. Generally, it takes City crews a day or two to clear snow off the arterial and major streets after which the locals are plowed. If you have concerns or emergency needs for snow removal, please call Public Service Department at 483-4161 or 483-4455.   There is a dead animal in middle of the road. Who do I call about this? Wild animals, such as squirrels, raccoons, etc., that are in the right-of-way will be picked up by a Public Service Department representative by phoning 483-4161 or 483-4555. Domestic animals, such as a cat or dog will be picked up by the Ingham County Animal Control by phoning 676-8370.   There is a fallen tree in the road or sidewalk. Who do I call? Please contact Forestry at 483-4202. Please provide the representative with your with your name, and the address.   There is a pothole in the road. Will the City fix that? The Public Service Department has a pothole hotline, 483-4161, to call. Our goal is to respond within 24 hours to fill in the pothole.   My neighbor is blowing/raking the leaves from his yard into the road! What can you do about this? Contact the Public Service Department at 483-4400. An enforcement officer will sent out to follow-up on this concern. Raking or blowing leaves into the street is a violation of City Ordinance. Violators may be issued a citation. Caller's identity is kept confidential.   Speaking of leaves, does the City do any collection of yard waste? Yard waste collection in the City of Lansing is seasonal. The City will collect yard waste of leaves, grass clippings, or garden waste if it is in 30 gallon paper yard waste bags. Rigid reusable 30 gallon containers with a composting identification sticker may be used. They are available for purchase at many grocery and home improvement stores throughout the City. Composting identification stickers are available for free at Waste Reduction Services offices located at 601 E. South Street or at the Public Service Department on the 7th floor of City Hall. The City will also collect branches that are less than two inches in diameter, cut into segments that are less than four feet long, and bundled with string or twine. Holiday trees are picked up at no additional charge during the first two weeks of January. If your tree is over 6 feet in length, please cut it in half. If you have any other questions concerning yard waste call 483-4400.   Can I put leaves in plastic bags? No. Unfortunately, plastic bags are not accepted. Plastic does not compost and may cause problems with the machinery and equipment used at the composting facility where the leaves and yard waste materials are delivered. Please use the brown paper bags.   Can I have a backyard compost pile in the City of Lansing? Yes, you may have a compost pile or bin as long as it is properly maintained and does not attract pests or cause a nuisance to neighbors. You may call 483-4400 for more information.   How can I learn more about composting? The Waste Reduction Services office can provide information on building a compost bin, along with other helpful tips. Waste Reduction Services also offer a Master Composter class during each spring. Those who attend the class become certified Master Composters. Please feel free to call 483-4400.   Where can I get an affordable compost bin? You have several options: 1) you can either make one yourself (Waste Reduction Services offers an instruction sheet on how to build one using old pallets); 2) you can buy one from a mail order catalog or internet source; 3) or you can purchase a bin from the City of East Lansing.   I received a notice that says that I was violating the right of way ordinance. What does it mean? It means that there has been an item or items left in the area from the sidewalk to the street in front of your home for more than 24 hours. These items (trash carts, misc. trash, brush piles, etc.) must be removed within a seven day time period. The violation notice is left at the home, as well as mailed to the property owner of record. If the item(s) are still within the right-of-way by the end of the 7 day period, the City will remove the item(s) from the street side and the property owner will receive a nuisance fee billing for the removal cost incurred by the City.   Does the City of Lansing provide residential trash service? Yes. Waste Reduction Services has different choices to fit individual needs. Our bag program is a "pay as you throw" service. As you fill your bags, set them out at curbside on your pickup day. The cost for trash service is included in the cost of the bags. City of Lansing bags can be purchased at many area convenience and grocery stores. The blue bags come in packs of 5 for $9.00. The City of Lansing also offers convenience carts to use with your blue trash bags for a refundable deposit of $30. The other type of service the City of Lansing provides is the Blue Billy Trash Carts. These are available in 4 different sizes according to your needs: 21-gallon, which will hold about 1 tall kitchen size bag and costs $31.20 every quarter; 32-gallon, which will hold about 2-3 tall kitchen size bags and costs $33.90; 65-gallon, which will hold about 4-5 tall kitchen size bags and costs $38.10; and 95-gallon, which will hold about 7-8 tall kitchen size bags and costs $46.35. Any type of bag can be used in these gallon containers. The 95-gallon container can have up to 3 extra bags on the side. If you have a 21, 32, or 65 gallon container and have extra trash, it can be placed on the side, but must be in blue City of Lansing bags. (Please note that all prices are current as of Fiscal Year 2004 and are subject to change.) Additional information is available online at: publicservice.cityoflansingmi.com/wastereduction   When is my pickup day? The City of Lansing picks up trash 5 days per week through out the City. Areas of the City are assigned a pick-up day on Monday through Friday. You may call the Waste Reduction Services hotline at 483-4400 or the Public Service Department at 483-4455 to find out your trash pick-up day.   How do I start new service? We accept checks, money orders, and Visa and MasterCard. Payment can be mailed in or brought to the Waste Reduction Services Office at 601 E. South Street. We also accept Visa and MasterCard payments over the phone by calling the Waste Reduction Services hotline at 483-4400. You may also start new service with a check or cash at the Public Service Department located on the 7th floor of City Hall. Once your service is established, Waste Reduction Services will bill you quarterly. Payments may be made in person at the Waste Reduction Services office or at the Public Service Department. We offer automatic payment with Visa or MasterCard each quarter, for added convenience.   I forgot to pay my trash bill and the City took my Blue Billy trash cart. How do I restart service? If you are delinquent paying your bill, and we have repossessed your trash container, you will need to call the Waste Reduction Services Office at 483-4400 or visit the office at 601 E. South Street. Staff will inform you what your late fee is and how much it will cost to re-start your service. You may pay the past due amount and the re-start fee over the phone with a credit card. You may also restart service by coming to the Public Service Department on the 7th floor of City Hall. The clerk will need to contact the Waste Reduction Services Office for your late fee and restart amount.   What happens if my trash is missed? Please call us right away at 483-4400 and we will get someone out within 24 hours. To be certain your trash is picked up, make sure that your trash is set out by 7 a.m. on your pickup day and it is visible from the street. We do our best to make sure that every bag is picked up and every container emptied.   Where can I recycle phone books? There is a drop off site which is available year round, located at 530 E. South Street.   Where can I recycle Styrofoam? As of this date, Dart Container Service is the only facility that accepts Styrofoam for recycling. They are located on Howell Road in Mason, just East of Cedar Street. Their phone number is 676-3800.   Where can I take building materials? There are several private haulers located in the area. Granger Landfill will also take building materials. Consult the yellow pages of your local directory for a service that fits your needs.   How do I get a recycling bin? Just call the Waste Reduction Services Hotline at 483-4400 or email at recycle@ci.lansing.mi.us and a bin will be delivered to your front door within the next few business days. Recycling bins are free.   What can I put in my recycling bin? Plastic bottles with a seam at the bottoms and sides and with PETE#1 or HDPE#2 stamped on the bottom, clear and brown glass food and beverage bottles, steel/tin, aluminum, newspaper, mixed paper, including junk mail, magazines and catalogs.   Why can't I recycle green glass? The processing company could not market the material. There is not enough demand for green glass.   How do I prepare my recycling bin? Newspaper should be placed in a brown paper bag. Mixed paper should be placed into a separate paper bag and the remaining materials can be commingled inside the bin.   What if I have excess materials that won't fit in the bin? Please put this material in a brown paper bag and leave it on the side of the bin. Additional items may also be put into a shallow box.   Can I take my magazines and junk mail somewhere to recycle? Yes. You may bring them to the drop off site located at 530 E. South Street.   Where can I take my tin, plastic and newspaper and other materials? There are several drop-off sites in the Lansing area. Call 483-4400 for a complete list.   Why doesn't the recycle driver pick up my cardboard when I put it in my bin? Our recycle trucks are not large enough to accommodate the material. Waste Reduction Services will pick up cardboard curbside if flattened, bundled with string or twine, and set next to a blue City bag or blue cart. If you want your cardboard to be recycled you may bring it to the drop off site located at 530 E. South Street. This site is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.   Where can I take my plastic bags that I get from grocery stores? Local Wal-Mart stores will take plastic bags from any store. Meijer stores work with other stores to recycle Meijer bags only (for a complete list of participating Lansing area stores call 483-4400).   Where can I take my old computers? Waste Reduction Services has a recycling event at least one time a year usually in the spring: call our office at 483-4400 for dates or look in our Green Sheet which comes out twice a year. There are also many web sites and phone numbers that we will be happy to give you.   I am moving. What do I do with my recycling bin? Please leave it at your house. The recycling bin stays at the home for the next resident to use.   I change the oil in my personal vehicles. Where can I take my used oil for recycling? Many oil change facilities and auto dealerships have oil tanks where the public can bring their oil for recycling. You can also contact the Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health Division at 887-4312 to find if they are accepting oil for recycling and a schedule of drop-off dates and locations.   For other general recycling questions… You can call 483-4400 and request a copy of the Green Sheet. The Green Sheet is also available on the Waste Reduction Services website at: publicservice.cityoflansingmi.com/wastereduction   I have a general question about my sewer. Who do I ask? Please contact the Public Service Department at 483-4455.   There are sewer rats in my front yard! What do I do? Please contact the Public Service Department at 483-4161 or 483-4455. A sewer crew member will bait the manholes and surrounding areas. If numerous complaints are received from the same location, an exterminator may be called.   What are the rates for connecting to the City of Lansing sewer system? The current connection permit fee rate is $100 and the sewer tap fee is $225. Should the connection require excavating into the street, there will also be a road cut fee. During 2004 these fees are $9.30 per square foot of cut on local streets and $18.95 per square foot of cut on major streets. For rate information and obtaining the permits please call the Public Service Department at 483-4455.   I have a business and use water in production. I discharge this water to the sanitary sewer. Do I need a discharge permit for this? You might. Many types of industrial and commercial business activities discharge process wastewaters to the Lansing sanitary sewer. These require Industrial User wastewater discharge permits. Please contact the Industrial Pretreatment Program Supervisor at 483-4407 to discuss this matter.   I smell a sewage odor outside my home. My neighbors smell it too. I haven't noticed this before. Is this normal? The odor of sewage near your home is unusual. Please be prepared to provide the following information. Your name, address and phone number. Can you pinpoint the location of the odor source? Is the odor continuous, intermittent, or at specific times of the day or night? Have you noticed any unusual activity near your home recently which coincides with the detection of this odor, i.e., road construction or repair, sewer construction, maintenance or repair, heavy machinery, trucks, etc.? Please contact 483-4161 to discuss this matter and we will investigate.   I noticed a sharp increase in my sewer bill this month over previous months with similar water usage. 1) Why is this so much? 2) What is the rate? 3) Why wasn't I notified? Rate change notices go out to Lansing sewer use customers in August or September for changes taking effect on October 1. It's possible you did not receive the rate change letter. We apologize if you did not receive this letter. Please provide us with your name (correct spelling) and address, and we will mail you a copy of the letter immediately. The sewage bill pays for operation, maintenance, and equipment replacement of the City's sanitary sewer collection system, Pump Stations, and Wastewater Treatment Plant. This sewage bill also pays for the majority of the cost to continue the 30 year Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) separation project. The rate increase in 2003 was 4%. Contact 483-4404 to discuss this matter.   There is water/sewage flowing out the top of a manhole cover in the street. It's flowing over the street to the curb and into another drain. It smells bad. Please contact the Public Service Department at 483-4161 or 483-4455. Please provide the following information: Your name, address and phone number. What is the address of discharge? When did you see this discharge; day (date), and time? Is the discharge continuous or intermittent? Is it raining or has it recently rained at this location? If your home is near or at the discharge location, are your sinks drains not draining or draining unusually slow? Is there water in your basement? Please contact us at 483-4161 to discuss this matter and we will investigate.   I noticed a discharge of water from a home to the curb. This water was clear and flowed to the curb drain. 1) Is this an acceptable discharge and discharge location? 2) Shouldn't this go directly to the sewer? This type of discharge is usually from a basement sump pump that is removing water from the foundation drain. It is acceptable to discharge to the lawn provided that the water rapidly infiltrates into the lawn and does not pond. It is not acceptable to let the water run to the curb. If a better spot in the yard cannot be located to discharge the water, then the water should be pumped to a gravity lead that is connected to a combined sewer or storm sewer. The lead cannot be connected to a sanitary sewer. If you have a concern, please call the Public Service Department at 483-4455.   I have a separate meter for watering my lawn and garden. 1) Why am I being charged sewer I&I for this water? I thought this was going to be a reduced charge because it doesn't discharge to the sewer. 2) What is I&I? I&I refers to Inflow and Infiltration. Water used for lawns and gardens seeps into the ground. This water becomes groundwater which infiltrates into failed sewers. This water also acts like rainwater which inflows into failed sewers similar to a rain event. A reduced charge is associated with transporting and processing of infiltration and inflow water received at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City continues to investigate sewer systems to determine sewer infrastructure failures and take corrective actions. All customers with meters for lawn watering pay a fee to finance treatment and sewer repair. Please contact us at 483-4404 to discuss this.   I live near the Wastewater Plant. Lately I have noticed a foul odor coming from the plant. Isn't there something that can be done to control the odors from the plant? I shouldn't have to keep my windows closed and stay inside all day. I don't have air conditioning and my health is not good. I need a good flow of fresh air through my home. This odor is making me sick. What can be done? We are very sensitive to odor issues at the Lansing Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is important that our neighbors find comfort and enjoy their surroundings at home or work. The Lansing Wastewater Division will make every effort to find and correct odor sources. Please be prepared to provide the following information. Your name, address and phone number. What time of the day do you detect the odor? Is there a specific day the odor is detected? Please describe the odor, i.e., musty, earthy, rotten eggs, bleach, decomposing matter, etc. Please contact us at 483-4404 and we will investigate.   Can I dump my Recreation Vehicle (RV) sanitary waste at the Wastewater Treatment Plant? No. This wastewater is considered septage. Lansing currently does not accept septage or hauled waste at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.   What is all the noise coming from the Wastewater Treatment Plant? The Wastewater Treatment facility is usually very quiet. Please contact the Wastewater Treatment Plant at 483-4404 and provide the following information: Your name, address and phone number. What time of the day do you hear the noise? Is there a specific day this noise is heard? Is the noise intermittent or continuous? Does the noise vary in intensity and volume? Please describe the type of noise, i.e., whistle, high pitched, grinding, low hum, etc.   What is this Combined Sewer Overflow project that I've been hearing about? Will my street be affected? The Combined Sewer Overflow Project is a 30 year federally mandated program to separate sanitary and storm sewers. The object is to prevent raw sewage from entering our rivers. To find out if your street will be affected by the Combined Sewer Overflow Project (CSO), please contact the CSO hotline at 394-5566. You can also contact the Public Service Department Assistant City Engineer in charge of the project at 483-4455.   The construction workers with the Combined Sewer Overflow Project dug up my front yard and I don't think they put down enough top soil afterwards. What are you going to do about this? If it appears that grass is not growing properly in the restored areas, please call the Combined Sewer Overflow Project hotline at 394-5566. If additional help is needed, please contact the Public Service Department at 483-4455. Our representative will review the site and if needed, will have the grounds repaired.   I have a complaint regarding the Combined Sewer Overflow Program. Who should I contact? You should first contact our consultant on the CSO hotline number at 394-5566 to see if they can help to resolve your concern. If you are unable to get sufficient help, contact the Public Service Department at 483-4455.   I have a drive approach (the area in the driveway between the sidewalk and the end of the driveway to the road) that needs repair. Who do I contact? The property owner is responsible to repair the drive approach. Whenever work is being performed within the street right-of-way, a permit is required. The permit can be obtained from the Public Service Department on the 7th floor of City Hall. There will be no charge for this permit. Please call the Public Service Department at 483-4455 and request to speak with the permit engineer.   My street is torn up due to construction, and I am unable to access my driveway; therefore, I parked on the street overnight and received a parking ticket! Who do I call to get this fixed? Please contact the Public Service Department at 483-4455. Normally, a representative from our office will provide you with a green door hanger that you hang from your vehicle's rear view mirror. Vehicles with this door hanger properly displayed are allowed to park in the street and should not receive a parking ticket. Remember that you are not allowed in park in a prohibited parking zone.   I need a road cut permit for sewer work. Who do I contact? You don't need to contact anyone. Your contractor will obtain the permit.   I'm having trouble with my sewer. There is 1) a sewer back-up; 2) an odor; 3) water or sewage in the basement; or 4) basically something strange going on. What am I going to do? Immediately call the Public Service Department at 483-4161 or 483-4455. Inform the representative of the time frame this problem has been occurring, such as today or over the past few days, along with your name, phone number, address (where the problem is occurring), nature of your complaint, and whether or not you will be home (the crew will knock on your door and tell you what was found if you're available). A City crew will respond to the given address to determine if the City main is functioning properly. If there is a need to address a problem with the City sewer main, the City crew members will attend to the problem. However, if our crew finds nothing wrong with the City main, chances are that the problem is in the property owner's sewer lead. In this case the property owner will probably need to contact a licensed drain layer to address the problem. The cost of repairs made to a sewer lead is the responsibility of the property owner.   The catch basin (also known as "sewer drain" or "that thing on the curb") is plugged with something and the street is flooding. What should I do? Call the Public Service Department at 483-4161 or 483-4455 and provide our representative with the nearest street address to the drainage structure. A City representative will respond by clearing the debris from the catch basin. We appreciate residents taking the time to remove debris from on top of the catch basin which may avert a problem before it occurs.   There's a sink hole at the end of my driveway. Is that a City issue? Settlement in pavement within the street right-of-way is a concern to the City. Please call the Public Service Department at 483-4455 should a sink hole be discovered, so we may respond to the situation as soon as possible.