Loading...
Citizen Connection March 2020Each month, City staff will answer your utility and services questions in our Ask an Expert column. This month, we’re focusing on Dyno Dirt to prepare you for spring planting season. Can I purchase Dyno Dirt all year? Yes, our facility is open year-round, and you can purchase material Tuesday - Saturday, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. What is the difference between Dyno Dirt and Dyno Soil? Dyno Dirt is an excellent soil conditioner, which you may use as a soil amendment, an ingredient in potting mix, a topdressing, or as a mulch. For best results, mix Dyno Dirt with existing or native soil. Dyno Soil is a 60/40 blend of Dyno Dirt and sandy loam, making it ready to use with no blending required. Dyno Soil is excellent for planting, filling in low spots, and leveling out a yard. For more product information, visit www.cityofdenton.com/dyno. How much material can I fit in the bed of my pickup truck? It varies by product due to weight constraints. A regular-size pickup will hold approximately 2 cubic yards of mulch. When purchasing Dyno Soil, 1 cubic yard is all that is recommended, but Dyno Dirt can be safely loaded at a quantity of 1.5 cubic yards. How are the deco-colored mulches dyed? The red, black, and brown mulches are painted with an environmentally safe, water-based paint. They are formulated to be nontoxic to children, animals, and plants while still providing a long-lasting color. Do you deliver? At this time, the City of Denton does not offer delivery. All items are sold in bulk and can be picked up five days a week at the Pecan Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1100 S. Mayhill Rd. For a list of independent haulers, please email Monica.Benavides@cityofdenton.com. To send in a question for this column, email communications@cityofdenton.com. Celebrate Earth Day 50 Join Sustainable Denton in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Fifty years is so much to celebrate that we need the entire month to do it. From classes to citizen science projects, there are many opportunities to get involved. Help us kick off Earth Month at Keep Denton Beautiful’s 27th Annual Redbud Festival on April 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrations start with a commemorative tree planting, sustainable giveaways, and much more. On April 11, the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center will host the 6th Annual Honey Run—rescheduled due to weather and trail conditions. Whether it’s reducing our carbon footprint, limiting plastic use, participating in litter clean up, or decreasing our food waste, we can all live a little more sustainably. In addition to hosting environmental events and classes, Sustainable Denton will also plant 50 trees, 50 milkweed plants, and 50 nectar-producing plants at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center. Follow our City of Denton Sustainability Facebook page to keep up with all the Earth Month activities. Here are a few exciting events to get you started! • Denton Redbud Festival – Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Denton Civic Center • Honey Run – Saturday, April 11, 8-11 a.m., Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center • Fix-it Clinic – Tuesday, April 14, 6-8 p.m., North Branch Library • The Urban Orchard – Thursday, April 16, 6-8 p.m., Emily Fowler Central Library • Air Quality 101 – Thursday, April 30, 6-7 p.m., Emily Fowler Central Library Ask an Expert: Frequently Asked Dyno Dirt Questions Severe weather is just around the corner, and with it could come unexpected damages to your property’s electrical system. To prepare you for potential weather- related damage, Denton Municipal Electric (DME) created a guide on what to do in case you face any electrical damages. Take the following steps to properly repair or replace your electric meter equipment: • Contact a licensed electrician to obtain the required electrical permits from the City and complete the necessary repairs. • For any questions regarding permitting or exceptions to permitting, call the City of Denton Building Safety Division at (940) 349-8360 or email building@cityofdenton.com. • After repairs have been made or equipment has been replaced, your electrician must contact the Building Safety Department to schedule an inspection. • The Building Safety Division will notify DME when your inspection passes, so electric service can be restored. In the upcoming storm-season, if you see an orange notice on your door from DME, it is because your property’s electric meter equipment is damaged and currently without electric service. If you receive a notice, follow the instructions on the notice to restore power to your property. For emergency repairs after 4 p.m., weekends, or holidays, call (940) 349-7000. What to Do if Your Property’s Electrical System is Damaged Did you know the City of Denton Solid Waste and Recycling Department offers a clearstream rental program? With the warmer months approaching, we expect to see more special events popping up on the calendar. To accommodate these events, the City of Denton rents out easily portable trash containers called clearstreams (pictured to the right). A clearstream is a collapsible trash or recycling container you can put up and take down in seconds. Plus, as a part of the clearstream rental service, the City will provide you with marked recycling and trash bags. Rebates Available for Planting Trees A publication of the City of Denton Department of Public Affairs ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com You can increase the value of your property and improve the livability of our city by planting trees! Denton utility customers may apply for a $50 rebate for each qualifying native or adapted tree purchased—up to five trees per property. Visit www.dentontreerebates.com for step-by-step instructions, a list of qualifying trees, and to apply. The application deadline is Friday, May 15. Trees provide many benefits to you and our community: • Trees shade buildings and decrease ambient temperatures. Strategically placed trees can save you up to 56 percent on your annual air conditioning costs. • Trees provide aesthetic benefits and increase property values. Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value. • Trees filter pollution out of the air and reduce greenhouse gases. Each year, 100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other pollutants. (Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service) The Tree Rebate Program is one of six programs under the Denton Tree Initiative, a campaign from Keep Denton Beautiful and the City of Denton. The initiative was designed to increase Denton’s tree canopy by offering free trees, forestry education, and tree planting incentives to Denton residents, businesses, neighborhoods, and schools. For more information, visit www.dentontreeinitiative.com. Event organizers are responsible for all trash and recyclables collected and must pick up and drop off clearstreams at the Solid Waste and Recycling facility at 1527 S. Mayhill Rd. If you are planning an event and would like to rent a clearstream, call Solid Waste and Recycling at (940)-349-8064. Rent a Clearstream for Your Next Big Event!