Public Works

Brush Pick-up/Yard Waste Disposal

Curbside brush pick up begins in April and runs through October of each year. Brush is picked up on the 3rd Monday of each month. This service is for the disposal of brush generated from routine yard maintenance, and is not intended for lot clearing or tree removal. The City reserves the right to refuse to pick up items in excess of routine maintenance amounts.

• Brush may be placed at the curb, but please do not place out onto the street. Brush should be less than 6" in diameter, bundled in lengths no longer than 6 feet, and of a weight easily handled by one person.
• Other yard wastes should be taken to the Recycling Center, located on Hwy A east of the City (see "Recycling Center").

Bulky Trash Days

The City of Markesan hosts two Bulky Trash Days per year. This drop off site is provided at the City Garage located at 200 South Bridge Street. Bulky trash drop off will be every year on Friday and Saturday of the last weekend of April and the third weekend in October. Exact dates and times each year are published in the newsletter, and are posted on the City calendar. Bulky Trash Days are an opportunity to properly dispose of furniture, mattresses, carpeting, storm window & doors, and other larger items that are not collected during weekly trash collection. All items dropped off at the garage MUST be from Markesan residents.

GFL Environmental will not accept any small items placed in bags or boxes. Bulky Trash Day is designed specifically for any items that will not fit in your provided cart for weekly trash pick-up.

To ensure that your items are accepted by GFL Environmental, please keep the following in mind:

• All items must be able to be handled easily by two people without risk of injury.
• Carpet must be rolled and tied, not to exceed 4ft length or 12" diameter
• Countertop is not to exceed 4ft length or 36" wide
• Latex paint cans are accepted if the contents have been dried to a solid and the covers are removed.

The following items WILL NOT be accepted:

• Bags/Containers/boxes of garbage or recycling
• Tires
• Hazardous wastes/chemicals
• Yard Waste
• Remodeling/Demolition Waste
• Roofing Materials
• Electronics, such as computers, TV's, etc. (please see "Recycling Center" below for more information on how to dispose of these items)
• White goods, such as stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc. (please see "Recycling Center" for more information)

Leaf Collection

Leaf pick up is typically scheduled for 4-5 Mondays in October and November each year, subject to weather conditions. Additional dates may be scheduled, if needed. Exact dates are published in the newsletter, and posted on the calendar on our Home Page. All leaves should be raked into the terrace area between the street and sidewalk by 7:00am. DO NOT place leaves in the street. Leaves should be in a loose pile, as bagged leaves will not be accepted. Leaves should also be in piles separate from other items, such as brush.

Fall leaf pick up is designed to pick up the majority of leaves as weather allows. It is not designed to be a total leaf pick up, but to assist residents in caring for their property. If you have additional leaves after the last scheduled pick up, or other compostable items, you may take them to the Recycling Center, located on Hwy A, east of the City (see "Recycling Center" below for more information).

Sidewalk Snow Shoveling

Property owners are responsible to clear snow and/or ice from sidewalk on their property within 24 hours of the end of the snow or icing event. Snow and ice may not be deposited onto City streets or rights-of-way. If you will be out of town during the winter months, or have an empty rental property, please make sure that you have made arrangements with someone to take care of any snow or ice on your sidewalks. If sidewalks are not properly cleared, City crews will clean the sidewalk, and the property owner will be billed. The first time the City clears a property, the cost is $110. For the second and any subsequent times, the cost is $220. If the invoice is not paid, the total, plus interest, will be placed on the next property tax bill.

Snow Plowing

Due to the nature of Wisconsin's winter storms, a variety of factors contribute to the methods and process for each snow/ice removal operation. Conditions such as rate and accumulation of snow fall, water content, temperature, time of day or night, wind direction and velocity, length of storm and mechanical failures, all play a role in determining how quickly the roads can be cleared. 

City employees do everything they can to prevent damage to private property during plowing operations.  Please observe the following guidelines to reduce the likelihood of damage:

• Especially when snow is predicted, please find off-street parking for vehicles (see "Winter Parking" information below).
• Mailboxes are placed in the road right-of-way at the owners risk. Properly installing your mailbox may help eliminate possible damage.
• Install your box so it does not extend beyond the front face of the curb or closer than the edge of the roadway where there is no curb.
• Follow US Postal Service Guidelines for mailbox placement.
• Mailboxes are most often damaged by the force of the moving snow, and not by direct contact with the plow truck or equipment. Please note that mailboxes that may be damaged in the normal course of plowing operations will not be replaced by the City. 

Winter Parking

Winter parking is in effect from Nov. 1 to Apr. 1 each year. No parking is allowed on City Streets from 2:00-6:00am to allow for snow removal should the need arise. Illegally parked vehicles may be subject to citations or towing, with towing costs paid by the owner. This restriction is in effect regardless of the predicted weather.