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HOUSEHOLD TRASH

The city of Fairfield provides curbside pickup of residential trash. Household garbage must be placed by the curb in front of the residence by 6 a.m. on trash pickup day. Pickup day is determined by where in the city you live. Contact Waste Management at 641-472-2952 or Fairfield City Hall at 641-472-6193 to find out when your trash is collected.

Trash is not collected Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day. If there is a holiday, pickup will be one day behind schedule for the rest of the week. Everyone is allowed to set out two bags or cans, 33 gallons or smaller. Each additional can or bag must have a “Jefferson County Waste Reduction” tag attached. Tags can be purchased at City Hall.

There is a 40-pound weight limit for any can or bag. Certain items cannot be left on the curb for pickup. These include, but are not limited to: Car batteries, tires, paint, chemicals, other hazardous materials, appliances such as washers and dryers, furniture, computers, televisions and other electronics.

For information about disposing of these items, contact the Southeast Iowa Multi- County Solid Waste Agency at 888-419-6720 or www.semcolandfill.com.

YARD WASTE

Yard and garden waste, such as grass clippings and leaves, must be separated from the regular trash. These items will be picked up on the same day as regular trash pickup if they are in lawn bags and have a Waste Management sticker attached. Stickers are available for purchase at City Hall.

Bags must be placed on the curb in front of the residence, but no closer than 3 feet to other household trash. Small amounts of brush can be picked up in bundles as long as they are no more than 36 inches in length and no more than 18 inches in diameter. Individual limbs can be no more than 4 inches in diameter. No bundle can weigh more than 40 pounds.

The city conducts a citywide brush pickup in the spring and fall. Brush, limbs and branches are picked up from the curb. Dates and guidelines are announced in The Southeast Iowa Union/Fairfield Ledger. Burning of yard waste is allowed during daylight hours in April, October and November on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Residents can drop off brush, leaves and grass at the Fairfield Compost Site at South 20th Street and West Jackson Avenue. Free mulch is available. Call Fairfield City Hall at 641-472-6193 or visit www.cityoffairfieldiowa.com.

RECYCLING, CURBSIDE

Fairfield has singlestream recycling. Each household has a green recycling cart for all clean acceptable items. Visit www.cityoffairfieldiowa.com to see a poster what can and cannot be recycled and a 2023 recycling schedule. Waste Management collects recyclables every-other-week on the same day as regular trash collection. Keep the cart 3 feet away from trash bags, mailboxes, cars, trees, etc. For details, contact City Hall at 641-472-6193.

RESIDENTIAL TELEPHONE, CABLE, INTERNET:

Iowa Telecom — Monthly payments: PO Box 10581, Des Moines, IA 50306-0481. Corporate headquarters: 403 W. Fourth St. N., Newton, IA 50208. Phone: 877- 901-4692.

LISCO — Mailing address: PO Box 1750, Fairfield, IA 52556. Corporate headquarters: 1680 Highway 1. Phone: 472-5400 or 800-331-8414.

Mediacom — 850 Gateway Drive, Ottumwa, IA 52501. Phone: 641-682-8768 or 800-798-8014.

Natel — 907 W. Burlington Ave., Fairfield. Phone: 641-469-6220.

ELECTRIC/NATURAL GAS:

Alliant Energy — Phone: 800- 822-4348.

Access Energy — Phone: 866-242-4232.

WATER AND SEWER:

Fairfield Waterworks — Fairfield City Hall, 118 S. Main St., 641-472-5343.

REGISTERING TO VOTE

To register to vote in the state of Iowa, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States.

• Be a resident of Iowa.

• Be at least 17 1/2 years old to register (18 to vote).

• Not have been convicted of a felony (or have had your rights restored).

• Not be currently judged “incompetent to vote” by a court.

• Give up your right to vote in any other place.

You can register to vote at the county auditor’s office, which is located on the first floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse.

The voter preregistration deadline is 10 days before general and primary elections and 11 days before all other elections.

When you preregister, your name will appear on the election register so you will be able to sign in and vote quickly at your polling place on Election Day.

As of Jan. 1, 2008, Iowa law allows you to register on Election Day at the polling place for the precinct you currently live in. After showing proper identification and proof of residence, you can register and vote at the precinct the same day. Registration is permanent. After you register, you do not have to register again unless you move to a new address.

For information about registering to vote, contact the county auditor at 641-472- 2840.

PAYING TAXES

Property taxes are due twice a year: March 31 and Sept. 30.

Jefferson County Treasurer’s Office sends out bills in August. Taxes can be paid in person, by mail, through the drop box on the north side of the courthouse, or online at www.iowatreasurers.org. The money goes to several taxing entities, including the county, the city, the school district and the county health center.

EMERGENCY

The Jefferson County Emergency Management coordinator is located at the Jefferson County Law Center.

In the event of an emergency, sirens located throughout the county are sounded. Citizens are asked to listen to the local radio station and/or weather radio for further instructions.

If an alert is issued, citizens should only call 911 for an emergency, not to request instructions. The sirens and emergency alert notifications are tested at 10 a.m. the first Saturday of April, May, June, July and September. But, if the weather looks threatening, the test is canceled.