Public Works Department

Contact Information

Manheim Township

1840 Municipal Drive

Lancaster, PA  17601-4162

Fax:  717-560-4183

E-mail: Public Works Department

Staff

Carl L. Neff - Director

     717-569-6406 ext. 116

Philip E. Mellott - Assistant Director    

     717-569-6406  ext. 115

Wendy Herr - Administrative Assistant/Recycling Coordinator

     717-569-6406 ext. 129

John B. Hershey - Compost & Environmental Services Superintendent

     717-569-6406 ext. 129

Guy R. Bunteman, Jr. - Highway & Stormwater Superintendent

     717-569-6406 ext. 129

Chris M. Lessig, Parks Superintendent

     717-569-6406 ext. 129

Administration and Engineering

The Administration and Engineering staff will assist your needs in customer support. We offer friendly, efficient service with current information regarding the plans and policies of the township.
                                                                                         Manheim Township Commissioner's Office

Street and Seasonal Maintenance

The operations staff carries out tasks to maintain public infrastructure and services. Arranged schedules are always subject to change as emergency conditions arise.

click here for SEASONAL services and schedules

Environmental and Construction Projects

The environmental staff works with others to assist in the implementation of beneficial restoration to the community landscape, waterways and air basin.

Adoption Programs

Manheim Township Adoption Programs are community service programs whereby local groups and organizations adopt Township roadways or streams and keep them clean. Manheim Township would like to thank the groups below who are currently participating in these programs. We are always looking for additional groups who are interested in participating. The programs are scheduled between April and October. If your group is interested in a service project that requires two mornings of work a year, please contact Wendy Herr at 717.569.6406, ext. 129 for more information. 

Adopt-A-Road Program

Thanks for keeping Manheim Township Streets Clean!

Participating Groups

• Grandview United Methodist Church (Grofftown Road)
• Highland Presbyterian Church Troop 99 (Kissel Hill Road)
• Lancaster Northeast Rotary (Butter Road)
• Lancaster Moravian Church (Airport Road)
• Manheim Township Lions Club (Hess Boulevard)
• Pennsylvania Power & Light (Creek Road/Pinetown Road)
• Troop 84 (Millport Road)
• Your Group Here....

The Conestoga River; the eastern boundary of our community

Adopt-A-Stream Program

You can enhance Manheim Township waterways by participating in the Adopt-A-Stream program. Activities include recording cycles of wildlife, monitoring water quality, care-taking of plants, and streamside cleanup and landscaping. Thanks for investing in our waterways!

Participating Groups

• Nitrauer School (Landis Run Tributary)

Your Group Here...

What to Recycle in Manheim Township

      Newsprint - Place in paper bags or tie in bundles and place in or beside your green recycling bin; Do not put newsprint out on rainy days; the water will contaminate the newsprint; no cardboard, cereal boxes, glossy inserts or magazines.

     Glass - Clear and colored bottles and jars; rinse and remove lids; no auto/window glass, drinking glasses, light bulbs or dishes.

     Cans/Metals - Aluminum, steel and bimetallic food and   

beverage cans; rinse and remove lids; no pots, pans, scrap metal or foil wraps.

     Plastic - Household containers with a designated #1 (PET) or #2

(HDPE) located on bottom of container; rinse and remove cap, crush; no styrofoam containers.

The Township also requests that you recycle the following:

• Tires - automotive/truck tires; no tractor tires/tire rims.

• White Goods - large appliances over 50 lbs. (washer, dryer, hot water heater etc); no large machinery, recreational vehicles, etc.

• Drycell Batteries - place in special orange battery bag (available from your hauler or at the Municipal Office); set beside recycling bin; no auto or utility vehicle batteries.

• Yard Waste - deliver to our compost site or place in bags and contact your trash hauler for disposal.

• Christmas Trees - during the season, contact your hauler for disposal.

• Leaves - during the season, refer to our collection schedule.

• Cell phones - place in same orange battery bag as drycell batteries; set beside recycling bin.

• Computers

• Flourescent Light Bulbs

• Used Clothing and Textiles

• Preparation

• Disposal Guidelines

• Refuse Haulers

• Schools

Modern conveniences such as dishwaters, washers, garbage disposals and indoor plumbing, have made life easier but they also have made us inherently wasteful. Our water resources or not unlimited. They are affected by population growth, economic development, precipitation and pollution. Sound management and conservation is the most cost effective way to protect our water resources. By making some changes in our individual daily habits, we all can do our part to use water wisely. Let’s see how an average family of four can save nearly $300 a year by making some changes to everyday living.

1. When brushing your teeth, don’t let the water continue to flow. On average, this wastes 3.5 gallons per minute. By shutting off the faucet, except to rinse, uses less than 1 gallon. An average toilet uses approximately 5 gallons per flush. Try purchasing a low consumption toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons per flush.
2. If you have a conventional showerhead that was manufactured before 1978, chances are it flows out at an average of 5 gallons per minute. Try a low-flow showerhead that pumps out 2.5 gallons per minute.

By making those three changes, a family of four could save 180 gallons of water a day. That equals about $.63 a day or $230 a year. If you add the cost to heat the water for the showers you’re talking close to $300. Give it a try! Here are some other ideas to help conserve water...

• Fixing all leaks. To determine if you have a leak in your toilet, place a few drops of food coloring into the water in the tank. If the colored water appears in your bowl, you have a leaky tank stopper. Refrigerating a bottle of drinking water instead of letting the faucet flow until the water is cold. Operating washing machines and dishwashers only when full. Washing the car with water from a bucket. If you must use a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.

• Watering the lawn during the coolest part of the day....the morning.

Many materials used in the home, garage and garden are considered household hazardous waste and they can cause serious safety and health problems in transportation or in disposal facilities.  Residents of Lancaster County can dispose of these materials at the Lancaster Country Solid Waste Management Authority's Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) free of charge.  These materials include:

• E-waste:  computers & cell phones

• Transmission & brake fluids, antifreeze, used motor oil & batteries (the kind used in toys, radios, watches & hearing aids)

• Fire extinguishers
• Household cleaners

• Floor & furniture polish

• Paint, stain, turpentine, thinners, rust inhibitors

• Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides

• Adhesives
• Kerosene, gasoline

• Old chemistry sets

• Photographic & pool chemicals

• Mercuty-containing devices

The Household Hazardous Waste Facility is located at 1299 Harrisburg Pike and the hours for drop-off are Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. and 2nd and 4th Saturday 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. 

For additional information you can contact the LCSWMA at 397-9968 or visit their website: www.lcswma.org.

Textiles have been recovered for reuse and recycling for generations. Wearable clothing has customarily been "handed-down", sold or donated. Today, yard sales are a popular means to dispose of unwanted textiles. The following Charitable Organizations are available to accept and distribute usable textiles, including clothing and outerwear, clothing accessories and linens/bedding:

• Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, Water Street Rescue Mission, Lancaster County Council of Churches, Matthew 25 Thrift Shop, and

• Mennonite Central Committee.

We all benefit from textile recovery by reducing the amount of waste which must be disposed while reclaiming a valuable resource.

A ½ acre lawn in Pennsylvania produces more than three tons (260 bags) of grass clippings a year. It takes a lot of money, effort and time to bag those clippings. And it is not necessary. Your lawn can be green and healthy by leaving your grass clippings where they fall. The clippings decompose and act as a natural fertilizer. After every mowing, you return nutrients to the soil and therefore, reduce the need to buy fertilizer.

Techniques and Tips:

• Any mower can recycle clippings. Just remove the grass catcher. Determine if you need a special safety plug or adapter kit by asking your lawn mower dealer. Never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade in one mowing and keep grass mowed to two inches in early spring and then gradually raise the height to three to four inches by summer, then gradually reduce back to two inches by late fall. Keep your mower blade sharp.

• Mow when the grass is dry.

Uses for Clippings:

• Compost. Fresh clippings are an excellent source of nitrogen.

• Mulch. Pile about 1" of dried clippings on the soil to reduce weeds and moderate soil temperature.

• Soil Additive. Mixing fresh grass clippings into the garden improves soil texture, promotes moisture retention and adds nutrients and organic matter.

Watering Practices: In the state of Pennsylvania, it is not necessary to water grass. Healthy lawns go brown during a drought but will quickly turn green when rainfall resumes. When in doubt, remember....

• The key word is "LESS" - -

  Less Fertilizer

  Less Water

  Less Work

  Less Waste

         

Compost Park

Manheim Township’s Compost Park is located at 2775 Oregon Pike and has been operating since October 2001, with residents delivering yard waste materials, as well as leaves, to the park. Here are some tips to help you with your disposal needs.

• The park is open everyday, dawn to dusk.

• Yard waste includes all garden residues, shrubbery & tree prunings, sod, leaves & grass.

• Biodegradable bags are available at the Manheim Township Municipal Office and the Compost Park for $.50 per bag.  The bag purchase includes one free fill with wood mulch and one free disposal of yard waste materials.  The Township encourages residents to continue using the biodegradable bags as many times as possible but the cost to fill the bag with wood mulch or to dispose of yard waste is $.50 per bag.  To dispose of leaves, there is no charge.

• To dispose of yard waste, there is a charge of $5.00 per small pick-up or trailer load or if you bring the materials in a biodegradable paper bag the cost is $0.50 per bag.

• Payment of fees is on the honor system at the compost park.

• Yard waste may be brought in other containers, but only biodegradable paper bags may be left at the park. It is the resident’s responsibility to remove unapproved containers, including plastic bags.

• Wood mulch and leaf compost is available to all residents.  Wood mulch is $.50 per bag or $10.00 per pickup truck or trailer load.  Leaf compost is 1.00 for a 10-gallon bag.  No pickup truck or trailer loads of leaf compost are permitted.

The Township receives quite a few requests for replacement bins due to them being lost, stolen or damaged. Below is a summary of our procedure for replacing recycling bins.

• A bin is issued to new township residents at no charge.

• Lost, damaged or stolen bins can be replaced for a $4.00 charge.

Permits and Licensing

Street Opening Permit

A street opening permit is required if you are planning to do any type of work in all public rights-of-way and easements. A permit form is available at the Municipal Office for your completion. In addition to the permit form, a drawing of the work being performed and a $25.00 permit fee cost is required. It usually takes only a day or so to issue the permit. For those permits requiring concrete work, an inspection would be necessary prior to pouring of concrete. An inspection can be scheduled by contacting Phil Mellott at 569.6406 ext. 115.

Tree Removal Permit

A permit is required for anyone who is interested in removing a tree located in the public right-of-way. A permit is only issued if the tree is in decline or decay as a potential hazard. The applicant must complete a form which are available at the Municipal Office. There is no fee for the permit. Should you have any additional questions contact Wendy Herr at 569.6406 ext. 129.

Grading Permit

A grading permit is required for all approved on-site improvements on the exterior of the building(s) including alterations to driveways outside of the public right of way.

• Submit Application for Grading Permit with two site improvement plans attached. All site improvement plans for commercial projects, land development, subdivision and stormwater projects require the seal and signature of an individual properly registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to perform such duties.Submit the required fee. The fee is based on the contractual value of the site work.

Seasonal Services

Our Leaf crew collects 2500 tons per season

Manheim Township’s Fall leaf collection program offers two curbside services to residents.

1. Whole loose leaves, raked to the streets edge, scheduled mid-October through early December.
2. Bag collection - whole or mulched leaves and pine needles (not to exceed thirty (30) gallon bag); call in schedule mid-October through mid January.

Fall Leaf Collection Information

Snow and Ice Removal

Mockingbird on Winter Berry

The public works department is committed to providing excellent snow removal service. Although the township has a general policy for snow removal, each storm event may be a cause for change. The township is divided into zones. Within each zone, the major collection streets and roadways are attended to first, with the residential streets following. Salt material is spread on the roads at the start of a storm, and when snow starts to accumulate, the roads will be plowed with one single pass in each direction on each street. After the initial plowing, the plow will return to widen the cleared area as much as possible. When clearing driveway entrances keep in mind that the plow will be returning again and may block the driveway with additional snow. In our attempt to remove snow from the roads, plowed snow may damage mailboxes; wet heavy snow increases the chance of damage to mailboxes. To reduce the potential for damage, make sure your mailbox is secured tightly on a sturdy post. Damage occurring from plowed snow is the property owner's responsibly. The Township crew makes every effort to avoid causing damage to mailboxes. Some additional reminders during snow events:

• Do not push or throw snow in roadways. This create hazardous driving conditions.Drive carefully at a minimum speed.Keep parked vehicles off the street whenever possible.

Spring Street Cleaning

Manheim Township’s annual spring street sweeping program is scheduled the end of March through the first 2 or 3 weeks of April (weather permitting). Cleaning is done daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Public Works Department requests that residents who have off-street parking available to please utilize it during these times. Should you have any concerns regarding this program, contact Wendy Herr at 569-6406 ext. 129.

2007 Street Cleaning Schedule

Here are some of the key projects and activities the Public Works Department was involved with in 2006.

• Resurfaced five miles of township roadways. As of the beginning of December, 2,000 tons of leaf material and 4,000 tons of woody material were processed at our Compost Site, 2775 Oregon Pike. These materials were collected through the township's curbside leaf recycling program and by residents delivering materials to the site. Completed several roadway projects including reconstruction of Buch Avenue from Cobblestone Lane to Weaver Road, traffic calming initiatives on Bassett Drive, and reconfiguration of Kissel Hill and Stauffer Roads.

• Completed the entrance roadway from Fruitville Pike to the Overlook Community Campus and stormwater facilities on the campus.