Dublin residents who don't adhere to the town's leaf and limb policy may soon find their leaves left behind.

Dublin Public Works Director Joey Dockery told the town council at Monday's regular monthly meeting that rising fuel costs have forced several changes in his department.

"We have to save the taxpayers some money where we can," he said.

Dockery explained that some residents have simply piled leaves beside the curb, rather than using bags as required by the town policy. In the past, the town has not strictly enforced the ordinance.

Dockery said increased operating costs for the town's trucks, along with the additional time it takes to load loose grass clippings and leaves, have dictated tightening up somewhat on the rules.

"It costs more money and takes more time to start and stop a truck," he said, "and we can't afford to have a truck sitting there idling and wasting fuel while we load up the leaves."

Dockery also said that the leaf and limb crew will no longer make additional trips to a residence unless there is an unusual amount of debris to be removed.

"It's going to take everyone working together," he said.

Limbs and logs must be no more than six inches in diameter and cut to manageable lengths to be picked up by the town. Larger debris will be left behind, Dockery said, unless other arrangements are made.

"We don't want to cut services to our customers," Dockery said, "but we have to cut costs somewhere."

In other Public Works business, Dockery told the board the GPS mapping of the town's water and sewer system is progressing.

"When this is completed," he said, "we can save time, money and water by being able to go directly to the location of a leak or a break, rather than having to hunt for it."

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