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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 2024 Utility InsertProtect your yard and garden from deer Plant a diversity of plants. Ensure any plants that deer find appealing won’t be available in high numbers. Deer don’t like to search long for their favorite plants and may be deterred if they don’t find something tasty right away. Consult with nursery and garden center professionals. They can point out options that are less appealing to deer. Consider deer repellant. These are most effective when applied frequently. Use fencing. Deer rarely jump fences that are at least 8’ high or into spaces they perceive to be enclosed. If you are considering installing a fence, review the Fences, Walls, and Hedges standards in the City Code (14-4C-2, part L) first. To see if you need a permit, call Neighborhood and Development Services at 319-356-5120. Remember: Feeding deer is prohibited in Iowa City. This includes putting out grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible materials (including bird feed), which may be reasonably expected to result in deer feeding. For more information, including the 2023-2024 Deer Management Annual Report, visit icgov.org/DeerProgram Sputter. Whir. Clang! Is your air conditioner on the fritz? Get pumped! That puts you in a prime position to swap it for a heat pump. A heat pump uses the same technology as an air conditioner to keep your home cool. And when winter comes, bonus! It works in reverse to heat your home. It can pair with your existing furnace and share the load, saving you money on heating costs next winter and mechanical costs long term. Cold climate heat pumps can even work in subzero temperatures. While the upfront cost of a heat pump is higher than an air conditioner, you can get 30% back, up to $2000, in a tax credit under the IRA. That makes heat pumps cost competitive – and it’s just the start of the savings. Over the lifespan of a heat pump, homeowners save $3,000 on average in reduced energy costs. That’s a nice chunk of change in return for improving the comfort of your home! To learn more, visit icgov.org/HeatPump. Dial 8-1-1 before you dig The digging season is upon us. It’s time for you to take a stab at that DIY project you’ve been eyeing all winter. Perhaps you will install a new fence, deck, or mailbox or plant trees or shrubs. There is an important first step to take before you break ground: Contact Iowa One Call at least 48 hours before you dig. Underground facilities provide essential services to our homes and community. These include electric, gas, fiber optic, water and sewer lines. By notifying Iowa One Call you’re making an important decision to prevent damages to buried utilities. Utilities near your proposed excavation site will be marked with color-coded paint and flags. Dig with care and caution near the markings to avoid compromising a utility line. A notice is valid for 20 calendar days. Don’t be a statistic or on the hook for costly repairs. Everybody wins when you know what’s below before you dig. Visit iowaonecall.com/homeowners or dial 811. It’s fast. It’s free. It’s the law. When it rains, debris in the street is carried into storm drains and on to local lakes, ponds, and streams. Keeping grass and garbage out of the stormwater system is important because it minimizes the likelihood of localized flooding and sends cleaner water into the Iowa River. What’s the harm in grass clippings? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, phosphorus in grass clippings is the primary cause of water quality problems. If you’ve ever noticed the “green scum” on ponds, that’s an overabundance of green algae, caused by too much phosphorous. Protect our water & reduce flooding: Keep debris out of storm drains For stormwater questions or to report a problem, call 319-356-5140. For storm sewer emergencies, call 319-356-5177 (24-hour hotline). Help protect our waterways with these tips: • When mowing, direct your lawn mower so that cut grass stays in the yard. • Don’t blow or rake grass clippings and leaves into the street. • Leave grass clippings in your yard or compost them at the curb in paper yard waste bags, or an official City organics cart. • Don’t toss garbage into curb inlets, and notify City crews of obstructions to drains in front of your home. Protect your yard and garden from deer • Plant a diversity of plants. Ensure any plants that deer find appealing won’t be available in high numbers. Deer don’t like to search long for their favorite plants and may be deterred if they don’t find something tasty right away. • Consult with nursery and garden center professionals. They can point out op�ons that are less appealing to deer. • Consider deer repellant. These are most effec�ve when applied frequently. • Use fencing. Deer rarely jump fences that are at least 8’ high or into spaces they perceive to be enclosed. If you are considering installing a fence, review the Fences, Walls, and Hedges standards in the City Code (14-4C-2, part L) first. To see if you need a permit, call Neighborhood and Development Services at 319-356-5120. Remember: Feeding deer is prohibited in Iowa City. This includes pu�ng out grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible materials (including bird feed), which may be reasonably expected to result in deer feeding. For more informa�on, including the 2023-2024 Deer Management Annual Report, visit htp://www.icgov.org/DeerProgram Get pumped! Sputer. Whir. Clang! Is your air condi�oner on the fritz? Get pumped! That puts you in a prime posi�on to swap it for a heat pump. A heat pump uses the same technology as an air condi�oner to keep your home cool. And when winter comes, bonus! It works in reverse to heat your home. It can pair with your exis�ng furnace and share the load, saving you money on hea�ng costs next winter and mechanical costs long term. Cold climate heat pumps can even work in subzero temperatures. While the upfront cost of a heat pump is higher than an air condi�oner, you can get 30% back, up to $2000, in a tax credit under the IRA. That makes heat pumps cost compe��ve – and it’s just the start of the savings. Over the lifespan of a heat pump, homeowners save $3,000 on average in reduced energy costs. That’s a nice chunk of change in return for improving the comfort of your home! To learn more, visit htp://www.icgov.org/HeatPump. Protect our water & reduce flooding: Keep debris out of storm drains When it rains, debris in the street is carried into storm drains and on to local lakes, ponds, and streams. Keeping grass and garbage out of the stormwater system is important because it minimizes the likelihood of localized flooding and sends cleaner water into the Iowa River. What’s the harm in grass clippings? According to the U.S. Environmental Protec�on Agency, phosphorus in grass clippings is the primary cause of water quality problems. If you’ve ever no�ced the “green scum” on ponds, that’s an overabundance of green algae, caused by too much phosphorous. Help protect our waterways with these �ps: • When mowing, direct your lawn mower so that cut grass stays in the yard. • Don’t blow or rake grass clippings and leaves into the street. • Leave grass clippings in your yard or compost them at the curb in paper yard waste bags, or an official City organics cart. • Don’t toss garbage into curb inlets, and no�fy City crews of obstruc�ons to drains in front of your home. For stormwater ques�ons or to report a problem, call 319-356-5140. For storm sewer emergencies, call 319-356-5177 (24-hour hotline). Dial 8-1-1 before you dig The digging season is upon us. It’s �me for you to take a stab at that DIY project you’ve been eyeing all winter. Perhaps you will install a new fence, deck, or mailbox or plant trees or shrubs. There is an important first step to take before you break ground: Contact Iowa One Call at least 48 hours before you dig. Underground facili�es provide essen�al services to our homes and community. These include electric, gas, fiber op�c, water and sewer lines. By no�fying Iowa One Call you’re making an important decision to prevent damages to buried u�li�es. U�li�es near your proposed excava�on site will be marked with color-coded paint and flags. Dig with care and cau�on near the markings to avoid compromising a u�lity line. A no�ce is valid for 20 calendar days. Don’t be a sta�s�c or on the hook for costly repairs. Everybody wins when you know what’s below before you dig. Visit iowaonecall.com/homeowners or dial 811. It’s fast. It’s free. It’s the law.