Village Asks Bugline Neighbors to Stop Stacking Yard Garbage

Village leaders plan to send letters to residents bordering the Bugline Trail asking them to please stop stacking their yard debris next to the trail.

Eric Nitschke, director of public works, said residents stacking yard debris next to the trail has caused issues during heavy rains because the debris washes out onto the trail and into the streets. The issue is further amplified by overgrowth in ditches bordering the trail.

“Between Maple Avenue and Silver Spring in particular, there have been many, many a storm where it rains very hard and the waste is then piled up and backs into the (ditch),” he said. “It floods Maple Avenue and leaves debris all the way to (Maple Avenue Elementary School)."

When staff told members of the Public Works Committee about the letters Tuesday, some members asked if fines should be included with the initial letter, but staff said the letter will be nice because many of the residents might not know they’re causing an issue. The letters will also remind the residents there is a place to dump yard debris in the village that doesn't cost extra taxpayer money, as removing debris from the trail does.

If residents fail to comply with the request, then staff will begin checking on who is complying and could implement fines.

Village President Greg Goetz said he lives next to the trail and during storms he has had to physically unplug debris that has washed out of yards.

“I’ve driven by there during major rainstorms and it looks like a lumber yard coming out of the Bugline,” Trustee Jason Wegner said.

Nitschke said Waukesha County is planning to pave the trail within the next two years and the village plans to work with staff there to see if they can find a way to upgrade the ditches bordering the trail to stop the overgrowth issues.