It’s not too late to recycle your Christmas tree! Instead of putting it out tomorrow with your trash, please consider recycling it.

RICHMOND – through Jan. 9, 2010
East Richmond Road Convenience Center, 3800 East Richmond Road,yard waste area
Richmond Southside Transfer Station, 3520 N. Hopkins Rd.yard waste area
Residents can set tree by Supercan for collection by garbage crews (tree will not be recycled.)
Note: “Bring One for the Chipper 2010″ event 12/26/2009 through 1/9/2010 from 9 am until 2 pm hosted by the City of Richmond, Parker Field Annex, 1710 Robin Hood Rd. at the Boulevard.

1706 Fenton Ave  Dogwood  Dead
1704 Fenton Ave  Ash  Dead
1700 Fenton Ave  Ash  Dead
4500 Bunn Ave  Ash  Dead

Vacuum Collection Program Guidelines

• Rake leaves to your property line.
• Do not rake leaves into the street.
• Leaves must be placed out for collection by the start date indicated for your route.
• Keep leaf piles less than 2 feet in height.
• Keep leaves away from ditches, pipes, and culverts.
• NO DIRT, ROCKS, METAL OR BRANCHES; these items will prevent crews from collecting your piles.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced an 18-percent reduction today in the city’s purchased gas cost, which he said will result in an 11-percent gas bill reduction for a typical residential customer.

Jones said in a statement that the decrease came as a result of a decline in natural gas prices over the last several months.

“I am pleased that this fluctuation in natural gas prices is to the benefit of the consumer. The fact that natural gas bills will continue to go down for our customers is good news I’m happy to bring during this turbulent economic time,” Jones said.

The city said the cost of natural gas it purchases is charged to customers without any markup. The other components in the price of gas to consumers are charges for delivery and service, the city said.

The decrease will show in bills customers receive in October.

The city reminded customers it offers a monthly budget plan to help balance their utility costs over 12 months. Information on that plan and other measures to help consumers with payment issues is available by calling 644-3000 or visiting the utility department’s Web site at www.richmondgov.com/dpu.

Richmond is looking to add another tax to home and property owners. The city is proposing a Storm Water Utility Fee to help pay for the cities aging infrastructure. Property owners can expect to pay between $25 and $70 dollars depending upon the square footage of your roof line and driveway. If passed we will be receiving our bills as early as Summer 2009. For the full story click here.

Published: March 26, 2009

Richmond residents will pay more for gas and water if Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ operating budget for 2009-10 is approved by City Council.

Jones presented the spending plan to council today. It reduces overall spending by more than 4 percent and spreads some of the pain to schools, police, fire and social services.

The $629.6 million budget proposes no layoffs, but it would leave more than 200 city positions vacant.

It also would keep the real-estate tax rate at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value, assess a service charge on nonprofit groups and add a $50-per-ton tipping fee at the city landfill.

In addition, residents would pay more for gas, water and waste-water disposal. Property owners would pay a new annual storm-water fee to fund utility projects.

If approved by the City Council, the budget would represent a decrease of $28.5 million, or 4.3 percent, from the current fiscal year’s budget.

The budget would spare public health from cuts, but it would reduce spending on education by 4 percent, and police, fire and social services by about 5 percent. Non-city agencies that receive city support also would see reductions. Jones said he’s proposing to not dip into the city’s rainy-day fund.

As part of his first biennial budget, Jones is projecting a budget of $636.5 million for fiscal 2010-11 — an increase of about $7 million, or 1 percent, over the proposed budget for next year.

– Will Jones