In this issue:
Helpful Hints for Moving
If this summer means a new place to live, a few helpful hints may make your move easier:
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Usable items
(televisions, furniture, appliances, clothing): don’t discard, share with friends or find a new use.
Bulky items
Call Solid Waste at 832-3032 for a pick up of large items like appliances or couches. Up to 5 auto tires may also be picked up free each year.
Needing household products? Make an appointment to visit the Product Reuse facility at 832-3030. Products available for free often include: latex paint, solvents, household cleaners and more.
GOOD NEIGHBOR ORDINANCES
Good habits make good neighbors. Familiarize yourself with Lawrence’s good neighbor ordinances:
Roommates – No more than 3 unrelated persons can reside in one housing unit in a neighborhood zoned single family.
Noise – Music should not be heard outside of your house. It is illegal to play music from a vehicle that can be heard from 50 feet away.
Parking – Do not park on lawns or sidewalks. Vehicles parked on streets must be moved every 48 hours.
UTILITIES
Water Service: transfer or end service by calling 832-7878 or go online to lawrenceks.gov/utility_billing
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Haskell Indian Nations University students with a valid ID are eligible for a reduced fare of 50 cents on the T.
University of Kansas students, faculty and staff with a valid KU Card are eligible to ride the T free.
K-12 students can ride the T at a reduced fare of 50 cents. Grades 10-12 must show valid student ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of leftover paint and pesticides?
The City of Lawrence/Douglas County Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts hazardous waste throughout the year by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Call (785) 832-3030 to schedule. Paint, pesticides, cleaners, used oil, mercury thermometers, spent batteries, and expired medications are accepted. No fee for Douglas County households.
How do I report a street light that is out?
Call Westar Energy at (800) 383-1183. The city pays Westar Energy to maintain and repair street lights.
Who is responsible for mowing alleys and areas between sidewalks and curbs?
Property owners are responsible for mowing, trimming and maintaining their property including areas in the right-of-way such as alley areas and yards behind fences and behind buildings.
Severe Weather Preparedness
A reminder of the hazards associated with severe weather
Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical reminds citizens knowing safety precautions could prevent injuries and possibly save lives. Know how to protect yourself and your family during severe weather.
Tornado Awareness
A tornado is part of a thunderstorm and is a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground. Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States during any month of the year.
Tornadoes may travel up to 70 mph with wind speeds greater than 200 mph, with wind speeds approaching 400 mph in the tornado’s center.
During violent weather, stay tuned to local television or radio stations and NOAA All Hazard Radios for information on watches, warnings, and impending severe weather.
Preparedness
The best preparation for a tornado is to designate a safe place in or around your home as a tornado shelter. Tornado shelters are safest if they are underground. A storm cellar or basement away from windows offers the best protection. If neither is available, plan to take shelter in an interior room on the lowest level without windows. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), cover yourself with thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), and use your arms to cover your head.
In mobile homes or vehicles, evacuate and take shelter in a substantial structure. If there is no nearby shelter, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine with your hands shielding your head.
In any large building, such as a store, avoid all large, poorly supported roofs. Go to the basement or to an inner hallway on the lowest floor.
If driving and spot a tornado, get out of your car and go to a nearby building. If driving in open country, drive at a right angle away from the tornado’s path. Do not try to outrun the storm. If you cannot avoid the tornado, get out of your car. Lie flat in the nearest depression, such as a ditch, culvert or ravine. Protect your head and stay low to the ground.
Severe Weather Terms
Tornado Watch: conditions are right for a tornado to develop
Tornado Warning: a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar
Thunderstorm Watch: conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop
Thunderstorm Warning: areas where severe weather is imminent
Healthy Swimming
Practice these six steps to protect yourself and others from recreational water illnesses.
All Swimmers
Please don’t swallow pool water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
Please practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
Please don’t swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
Parents
Please take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
Please change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper changing area and not at poolside. Germs can be spread in and around the pool.
Please wash your children thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.