CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There's a call to action as residents wait for heavy brush and bulky items to be collected by city crews to make sure all that debris is not blocking the sidewalks for trick-or-treaters.
Those big piles can provide challenges even dangers for little ones.
In a neighborhood off Rodd Field and Wooldridge roads you will find pile after pile of heavy brush placed out in front of homes, but in some spots branches are blocking the sidewalks.
Those branches can pose as an obstacle for little ghouls and goblins who are set to roam our neighborhoods come Halloween. And if they can't walk on the sidewalk, they might be forced to walk out into the road.
3NEWS spotted one resident, Rick Pena doing his part to help a neighbor with some loose branches that were over the sidewalk.
"Trying to get these trees picked up and everything so where the kids can walk by without tripping," he said. "We definitely don't want anyone getting hurt."
Pena lives in an area classified as '2C' where city crews are currently collecting heavy brush and bulky items.
"If you have things set out for the brush and bulky cycle please make sure you are not blocking the right of way," Assistant Director of Solid Waste Services Philip Aldridge said.
He said it's important to keep anything you set out in the space between the sidewalk and the street.
"Make sure you pack it down pretty good, should stay put, and if you do notice anything toppled over please go out and put it back on top of the pile," Aldridge said.
If those items spill over the sidewalk, you run a risk of being fined. Setting out too early can also get you in trouble.
"The next set out period is going to be 3A, north of Alameda along Ocean Drive, that starts tomorrow," he said.
3NEWS also checked out area 4B off Everhart Road where we already spotted items being set out as well as blocking sidewalks almost a full month before that neighborhood's scheduled brush and bulky set out date.
Aldridge said it's important to know your set out schedule. You can do so by going to the city's website cctexas.com or download their app called "CC Recycles."
A few other things to keep in mind when it comes to setting out brush or bulky items:
- Only set out during authorized set-out periods.
- Heavy brush and bulky items must be separated.
- Items like concrete, brick, rocks will not be collected.
- Also items like household hazardous materials such as oil, gas, antifreeze and paint will also not be allowed.
Non-compliance could result in fines up to $2,000 per-day per violation.