City of Sylvan Lake

Postal Service

The closest post office is located in Keego Harbor in the Harbor Pines Shopping Strip on Orchard Lake Road. For most of the City addresses the postal address is Sylvan Lake 48320. For the residents on the north side of the lake (James K, Pioneer, Tilden, and Dick), the postal address is Pontiac 48341. For Woodrow Wilson, Littetell and Penna, the postal address is West Bloomfield 48324.

Library

The City of Sylvan Lake has use of the West Bloomfield Library system. There are two locations, one on Commerce Road and another on Walnut Lake Road. To use these libraries, you need proof of Sylvan Lake residency. For hours and information you may call 682-2120 (Walnut Lake Road-main branch) or 363-4022 (Commerce Road).

School Districts

The City is serviced by two school districts. The streets of Beverly, Warwick, Greer, Island Court, and a small part of Garland are in the West Bloomfield School District. The rest of the City is within the Pontiac School District. The City has a local ordinance requiring all traffic to stop in both directions for a school bus. Administrative office phone numbers are as follows: West Bloomfield 738-3555, Pontiac 338-7463.

Composting

YARD WASTE
Yard Waste Includes - cut grass, leaves, cut weeds, shrub trimmings, brush, twigs, small branches, sod and similar items.
Yard waste will be accepted in brown paper yard waste bags or trash cans clearly marked compost.

SMALL BRANCHES
3 inches in diameter or smaller, will be accepted if securely tied in manageable bundles no more than four-feet in length.
Yard waste in any type of plastic bag will not be accepted!

Yard waste may not be placed at the street earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before regular trash collection.

LEAF COLLECTION
Leaf Collection is done in the fall of each year. Please do not confuse the leaf collection program with the collection of yard waste. The City will collect leaves and grass clippings for a set period of time in the fall (exact dates will be given in the fall). The rest of the time, from April through November, all yard waste material must be put at the edge of the road following the guidelines outlined above. All grass and leaves must be in appropriately marked containers.

LEAF COLLECTION GUIDELINES
The leaf collection program will continue in the same fashion as past years. The program will begin in mid October and end the first week of December (please watch newsletter and website for exact dates). Please clean up extra good this fall as City Council approved at the last meeting to eliminate the spring collection. In the Spring, all leaves will have to be bagged and put at the curb for collection with yard waste. We are not eliminating the fall leaf collection, just the spring collection. I’m sure most of you are very adept at the procedure, but we need to make note of a few important points.
∙ Please rake the leaves onto the edge of the street. Please do not leave them in the ditch.
∙ We will appreciate having all cars parked in your driveway and off the road between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the leaf collection program.
∙ Please do not call City Hall to tell us you have raked your leaves or to ask when they are going to be picked up. We know where they are and will pick them up when possible.

Recycling

Recycling is included as a part of your normal trash collection.

RECYCLING BINS You can pickup a recyling bin at City Hall. One per household will be provided. However, it is not necessary to use their recycling bin.

You can use a plastic "storage" type container or even a cardboard box. Make sure it is marked
"RECYCLING" so the contents don't end up in with the regular trash. Place your recyclables in
the box and put the box by the street.

REMEMBER! You cannot put your trash, recycling or
yard waste at the street earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before it is to be collected. You must
remove any trash containers or recycling bins by 7:00 p.m. the night trash is collected.

New acceptable material guidelines are at:recylcling.

CORRUGATED CARDBOARD, PAPER BOARD, BOX BOARD CARDBOARD - fold, flatten or cut into bundles no larger than 2' x 2' and tie securely.

PAPERBOARD - remove all food, discard packing material (no cellophane), or badly stained items, flatten, and stuff tightly in biggest paperboard box and tie securely with string or use strong rubber bands.

NO MILK CARTONS, NO DRINK BOXES, NO BOOKS, NO JUICE CARTONS.

MAGAZINES, CATALOGUES, NEWSPAPERS, GLOSSY ADVERTISEMENT AND INSERTS, GLOSSY MAGAZINES AND CATALOGUES - tie securely with string or use a strong rubber band.

NEWSPRINT ADS - tie securely with string or place in brown paper grocery bag.

BROWN PAPER GROCERY BAGS - fold and place inside another paper grocery bag and tie securely.

TELEPHONE BOOKS, do not bundle with newspapers or magazines.

PLASTIC JUGS AND BOTTLES - Plastic Containers must be crushed (step on jugs or bottles before placing in bin.) They must be clean. No caps or wide-mouth bottles (butter tubs, sour cream, yogurt containers, etc.)
Only bottles marked 1 or 2 on the bottom will be accepted Anti-Freeze or motor oil containers will not be accepted.

GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS - Clear Brown, Green and Blue only. Remove metal lids and place securely in metal can.

METAL - Cans, pie tins, metal lids, aluminum trays, metal clothes hangers and other small metal items. Items must fit in Recycle bin. Place loose metal lids inside cans and bend so lids do not fall out (for safety purposes)

Large Items and Concrete

Our trash contractor will pick up large items at the curb each week. Concrete will not be picked up by the contractors. You may call State Crushing Facility, 2260 Auburn Rd. (just east of Opdyke Rd.), 332-6210 for more information on disposing of concrete.

Trash Pick-up

Trash pick-up is every Wednesday. You must have your trash out by 6 a.m. on Wednesday. You may put your containers and bags out, curbside, after 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and must bring them in before 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. If the following holidays (New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas) falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, your trash pick-up will be delayed one day for that week only. Any questions call Richfield Waste at 877-609-6753.

Storm Drainage

Storm drainage is dependent upon open ditches in front of the homes in the City. Therefore, the cooperation of each resident is very important in keeping these ditches and culverts open and free of debris all year long. If your ditch and/or culvert is clogged with leaves, trash, etc., the water cannot flow properly to the lake.

Sanitary Sewer

The sanitary sewer system is maintained by the City; however, disposal is costly since the main outlet empties into the City of Pontiac and we are charged accordingly for usage. The sewer usage charge is based on the amount of water used during a 3-month period. During the summer months the sewer usage is averaged and your billing is based on winter consumption; therefore, you are not penalized for watering lawns, gardens, washing cars, etc.

Water System

The City is connected to the Detroit water system. Water/sewer bills are issued quarterly. If the DPW cannot get into the home to read your meter and you do not have an outside read-o-mat, they will leave a card on your door. It is imperative that we receive your meter reading. Meters are read the first week of January, April, July and October. The City can install an outside read-o-mat so the DPW does not have to gain access to your home to read the meter. If you decide that the ROM is needed, please call City Hall and we will make arrangements with you at your convenience. There is a $75.00 charge for this meter that is payable, in installments, with your water/sewer bill. The due dates for the water bills will be Feb., May, Aug. and Nov.

Newsletter

Each month the City publishes a newsletter which is sent to your home. These newsletters are not big and flashy. They simply contain information that each resident should be aware of. It is very important that you read the letter each month.

Cable TV

You can view the May Cable guide at May 2008 Guide. Cable TV is through Comcast. Contact customer service at 855-6971 or (888) 339-1688.