I am a Heber Meadows resident, and have been for the past four years. Despite the fact that our residential area is very much unkempt when it comes to overgrown bushes that make the entire area look terrible, especially that marsh/bush area on the corner of Bloomfield and Correll Road that has yet to be entirely cleared, I have noticed this disarray throughout the entire Heber community. Piles upon piles of clay-like dirt line the edge of sidewalks (product of strong winds that bring upon that dirt or sand), trash on some area streets, and overgrown weeds everywhere. Isn’t the fact that we pay plenty of property taxes supposed to help with issues like these? Will we ever have a street sweeper? Will we ever get these weeds, overgrown bushes removed, and what about needed sidewalks in community areas and residential streets? I see plenty of people walking to the bus stop or Kennedy’s Market having to walk on dirt because there is no sidewalk. Please, I’d really appreciate your answer. Many of us residents are wondering what is going on. — Unhappy in Heber
Clearly the one concrete question the letter writer has is asking about street-sweeping services. For the most part, sanitation companies also provide that service if it is part of the contract between the city or county and the company.
CR&R collects the trash and recyclables in Heber. While it does have street-sweeping services in El Centro, it does not in Heber, said Laura Fischer, general manager of the Heber Public Utility District.
In terms of the general look of dirtiness that is rampant through old Heber, Fischer agrees that no sidewalks are the main reason.
“The lack of sidewalks really affects the curb appeal. It attracts the mud and dirt, and the main crux of it is, there’s not curbs and gutters in old Heber,” she said.
And then the lack of curbs and gutters goes back to the county of Imperial, because Heber is an unincorporated community in the county.
Fischer, while new to the position, said Heber Public Utility District has long advocated for sidewalks, curbs and gutters. There are two sidewalk construction projects to get under way, but those are more tied to the schools in Heber than the main thoroughfare.
Recently, Heber officials along with the county and the California Department of Transportation came together on crosswalks and speeding through that main corridor. She said the result was new crosswalks on Highway 86 installed last week. That, Fischer said, was an example of collective action.
Fischer did want to specifically address the retention basin at Correll and Bloomfield. She said that retention basin was not finished by the developer and the county is now negotiating with the developer through the surety bonding company to get the work done. Until it is finished, that basin is no one’s property so it is not being maintained. When the county accepts responsibility for it (after the work is complete) then it will be maintained.
Clearly the one concrete question the letter writer has is asking about street-sweeping services. For the most part, sanitation companies also provide that service if it is part of the contract between the city or county and the company.
CR&R collects the trash and recyclables in Heber. While it does have street-sweeping services in El Centro, it does not in Heber, said Laura Fischer, general manager of the Heber Public Utility District.
In terms of the general look of dirtiness that is rampant through old Heber, Fischer agrees that no sidewalks are the main reason.
“The lack of sidewalks really affects the curb appeal. It attracts the mud and dirt, and the main crux of it is, there’s not curbs and gutters in old Heber,” she said.
And then the lack of curbs and gutters goes back to the county of Imperial, because Heber is an unincorporated community in the county.
Fischer, while new to the position, said Heber Public Utility District has long advocated for sidewalks, curbs and gutters. There are two sidewalk construction projects to get under way, but those are more tied to the schools in Heber than the main thoroughfare.
Recently, Heber officials along with the county and the California Department of Transportation came together on crosswalks and speeding through that main corridor. She said the result was new crosswalks on Highway 86 installed last week. That, Fischer said, was an example of collective action.
Fischer did want to specifically address the retention basin at Correll and Bloomfield. She said that retention basin was not finished by the developer and the county is now negotiating with the developer through the surety bonding company to get the work done. Until it is finished, that basin is no one’s property so it is not being maintained. When the county accepts responsibility for it (after the work is complete) then it will be maintained.
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