Keeping Streets Clear and Safe

North Hills is located outside Wilmington in unincorporated New Castle County. While this means that residents don’t pay Wilmington taxes, the location comes with some responsibilities: Households contract individually for garbage collection and the Civic Association contracts for snow removal for all but the Washington Street Extension and Marsh Road.

Fall and winter present opportunities for us all to be good neighbors to one another. Moving the leaves off our properties into the street isn’t neighborly: there is no city crew to pick up leaves from the street. Leaves in roadways can result in accidents and injuries, especially when wet. Storm sewers are not appropriate for leaf disposal and blocked storm sewers may not be cleared promptly by DelDOT, resulting in flooding and icy patches.

Raking leaves into gardens or amongst landscaping as mulch keeps the soil below them moist and provides a refuge for beneficial insects and other wildlife. Shredding leaves isn’t recommended as it destroys overwintering insects (think cocoons within a leaf). Leaves may also be used as an ingredient for rich compost when mixed with kitchen scraps, such as vegetable peels and coffee grounds, and allowed to break down.

When snow comes, North Hills streets will be plowed by our contractor. To protect lawns and encourage a clean sweep, please put out reflectors to mark the perimeters of your property. Lines of reflectors take the guesswork out of plowing roads, helping to avoid damage to lawns. The contractor also asks that people remove vehicles from the roads during snow. Parking vehicles in driveways when snow is expected makes it easier to clear roads and prevent ice patches forming around where cars were parked. Parking in driveways may also save residents time clearing driveways because less snow accumulates under a parked car. Like fallen leaves, snow from your property should remain on your property and not be moved into the street. Your assistance with keeping our streets clear and safe are appreciated.

Please pay your dues so we can continue to provide snow removal services. If you’re not sure whether you’ve paid your dues, send an email to nhca19809@gmail.com to check the record. Thank you for your support.