FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

_{All residential properties (four dwelling units or less), City buildings, and places of worship are included in the City's contract.  Apartments above downtown businesses are not included in the City contract.}

_{No, that sidewalk is on public right of way, and keeping it safe is ultimately the City's responsibility. By ordinance, the City has passed the responsibility for clearing snow on to the property owners, but liability remains with the City. State law allows the City up to 21 days to clear snow after a storm, so in most sidewalk injuries, the City is not negligent according to that law.}

_{Every February, the City accepts requests for new boulevard trees on a first-come/first-served basis. Usually the requests are limited to two trees per year unless trees are left over. The resident is usually given a choice from several different trees, which can be affected by the presence of sidewalks or power lines.}

_{No. Grease can solidify and trap other solid particles to completely plug your pipes. Grease should be placed in a separate container and placed in the garbage. Caustics, acids, and solvents can have harmful effects on the sewer system and can be hazardous to workers in the sewer plant. These should also be disposed of separately.}

_{› The city does not collect grass clippings or garden waste as this would be a constant duty that would be very costly.} 

_{› Leaves are taken behind the City shop and are recycled into mulch. Brush and yard waste is taken to our Brush Dump on 15794 Hardwood Road, where it is made into wood chips. The public may drop these items off at these locations themselves, and may help themselves to wood chips if desired.} 

_{› Grass Clippings and leaves can be dropped off at The City Shop at 1134 S. Water St.} 

_{Collection of normal garbage and recyclables are covered by your property taxes, with a portion of these expenses covered by your utility bill.  For large items not included in your contract like appliances, mattresses, etc., contact GFL Environmental Inc at (608) 269-4300 for collection and applicable fees.  You can also take appliances directly to GFL Environmental at 200 Hemstock Dr. Sparta, WI 54656.} 

_{Mobile homes situated on rented land are considered to be personal property. These homes are assigned the same mill rate as real estate, as determined by the taxing agents within the city. These agents consist of the Sparta School District, the State of Wisconsin, Monroe County, Western Wisconsin Technical College, and the City of Sparta. The taxes due for any mobile located on rented land are due on a monthly basis. Within the City of Sparta these taxes are paid to the mobile home park owner, which in turn pays the City.}

_{We maintain a 5-year plan for upcoming street and utility projects. Usually streets that are reconstructed--the most expensive type of repair--have poor pavement and utilities. If the utility mains are good underneath a street, usually a maintenance project is selected instead of complete reconstruction. An asphalt overlay is a good solution for streets that have a solid gravel base, good drainage, and preferably good curb and gutter. A seal coat is often applied to streets that have decent pavement that is starting to crack, again with good drainage and base. And crack filling is often done before seal coating or on newer streets that are starting to crack. The longer we can keep water out of the base of blacktop streets, the longer it will last.}

_{Over time, the traps to sinks and floor drains that are seldom used dry out and allow sewer gas from the main to enter the home. Running water into the drains monthly should keep the sewer gas from entering the home. HINT: Adding a cup of vegetable oil to the water surface will slow evaporation.}

_{Payments to the City can be made by cash, check, money order, and using a card payment. This card can be accepted at City Hall or visiting here. A service fee will be applied for using a card at City Hall or by paying online. Payments can be made in person at City Hall, mailed to City Hall, or placed in the after hours drop box located next to the doors of City Hall off S Court Street. Property Taxes, Utilities, Parking Tickets and citations may also be paid online.} 

_{Please visit here to complete an online payment.} 

_{On Christmas Day, New Years Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day, no garbage will be collected. Typically, the contractor will try to make up the missed route the day after the holiday, and do both routes in one day. If the holiday falls on a Friday, the contractor may collect both routes the day before. Please contact GFL for further information or questions: (608) 269-4300.}

_{If the problem is in the sewer main in the street, it is the City's responsibility to resolve the problem. If the problem is in the home or in the lateral between your home and the main, however, repairs and damages are the homeowner's responsibility. If you are experiencing plumbing problems throughout your house, we recommend that you call the City first (269-4340, ext. 226, during normal business hours, or 269-6333 after hours) to avoid getting a bill from your plumber if it turns out to be the City's responsibility.}

_{Paying for the water service is the responsibility of the property owner, plus a $300 fee is charged for the Water Department to make the final connection. If a problem in an existing service is located between the water main and your curb stop, it is repaired at the City's expense.}

_{Yes. Especially if your water meter is in an unheated area such as a crawl space, you should protect it from extreme cold. A replacement meter in such cases will be charged to the customer. There are also times when frost forms deep in the ground and threatens to freeze the water service to homes. At these times, the Water Department may advise you to run water at a slow trickle to prevent it from freezing.}

_{It is always a good idea to take extra precautions during road work to prevent injury to drivers or workers and to protect vehicles. Of special concern are seal-coating projects, where loose limestone chips are placed on an emulsion and compacted in place. For the first few days, the chips will be loose and can cause damage to vehicles. Slowing down prevents these chips from being kicked up. In very rare cases, tire treads can be affected by a hot rubber material during crack filling, so you may want to avoid these areas immediately after the work is complete.}

_{The street crew collects brush from residential properties within the city the 1st full week of every month. Brush piles should be placed in the street -not in the boulevard- and should not be mixed with other yard waste, and should be limited to a size that can be collected by the Street Crew in 30 minutes or less. If a property owner hires a contractor to remove a tree, the contractor should take care of disposal.}

_{The EAB is a small beetle that is threatening the entire ash tree population in the Midwest.  In 2008, the City used a DNR grant to have a response plan drafted.  Since 2009, boulevard and park ash trees have been preemptively removed to lessen the impact when EAB arrives (focusing on small trees, or trees under power lines or in poor health).  We hope to preserve 200 mature ash trees by treating them with insecticides at the appropriate time.  The City has increased its annual tree planting budget, and has received financial help from the DNR and Polar Bears International, planting 700 boulevard trees in 2011 alone!}

_{The City requires our contractor to recycle glass, tin, newspapers, magazines, corrugated boxes, #1 through #9 plastic bottles, and aluminum cans and scraps. These items must be separated into the designated Blue Recycling Receptacle provided by Modern Disposal Systems.} 

_{Since plowing usually costs the City about $1,000 in overtime pay per storm, we don't do it as often as some people would prefer. The Street Crew usually plows after a significant snowfall (typically 3" or more). Other factors are accounted for, such as time of year and the forecast for future storms. If it is likely to warm up quickly, plowing may not be necessary. If plowing is not necessary, we often use salt or sand to keep intersections safe. Plowing is usually done during the overnight hours (starting at 2:00 a.m.) so fewer conflicts with moving or parked cars are encountered, especially in the downtown. Snow is sometimes removed from the downtown or highway areas when the amount of accumulation makes plowing to the side difficult.}

_{In such cases the State of Wisconsin considers the tax bill to be delinquent. 1% interest is charged per month retroactive to February (of the year payable) to any unpaid balance until the tax bill is paid in full. Subsequently, this means regardless of any future payments being made in a timely fashion, interest will be charged to these payments.}

_{Typically any payment due to the city can be made at the City Treasurer's Office. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Any recreation program fees are payable at the Parks & Recreation Office located in the Sparta/Barney Community Center. Traffic citations issued by the Sparta Police Department can be paid at the City Hall. Parking tickets are NOT paid to City Hall, please pay those citations at the Sparta Police Department. Monroe County Circuit Court fees need to be paid to Monroe County Clerk of Courts.} 

_{Appliances, mattresses, construction material or debris, automotive parts, and hazardous materials (batteries, wet paint, etc.) are not included in the contract. Every spring and fall, Monroe County offers a special waste cleanup where such items can be disposed of.  Containers weighing over 50 pounds will not be emptied by the contractor. The contractor may choose to leave loose or wet garbage as well.}

_{Christmas Trees are collected during the first full week of January every year.}

_{Tax payments for the City of Sparta are due as follows:}

• _{Full payments are due January 31st of the year payable}
• _{Quarterly payments are due January 31st, March 31st, May 31st, and July 31st of the year payable.}

_{Generally, Monday's route covers the south end of town, Tuesday includes the west-central portion, Wednesday is when the northwest part of the City is collected, Thursday covers most areas north of Montgomery Street, and Friday includes the areas east of Chester Street. Call the Public Works Office at 269-4340, Option #4 regarding individual addresses. All garbage should be placed at the curb or alley by 5:00 a.m. the day of collection, but no more than 24 hours in advance.} 

_{Please visit here for the schedule and map.}

_{GFL Environmental Inc will pick up large items only by scheduled times and coordinated with them directly. Call them directly at (608) 269-4300. Large item pick up days are on the Waste and Recycling schedule, bi-weekly in Mondays.} 

_{To view this schedule, please visit here.}

_{Our Street Crew collects leaves continually in the fall, using a lone employee in a leaf machine. Please do not bag your leaves, and keep the leaves separate from brush or other waste to prevent damage to our machine. Leaves should be placed on the boulevard, not in the streets. You may contact The City of Sparta for details and questions at (608) 269-4340.}

_{The City of Sparta does not collect leaves from private property, such Mobile Home Parks.} 

_{The sewer and water bills for the City of Sparta are compiled and calculated by the utility billing clerk. These bills are due on a quarterly basis. these bills are also paid at the City Treasurer's Office located in City Hall. Pay your utility bill can be paid as follows:}

_{› Made by cash, check, money order, or credit card at City Hall. Checks need to be written out to The City of Sparta.}

_{› Made by making a payment online with a credit card here.} 

_{A service fee will be applied for using a credit card online or at City Hall.} 

_{› Made by mailing in your payment to City Hall to 201 W. Oak St Sparta, WI 54656.}

_{› Made by placing your payment in our after hours drop box located at the entrance on S. Court St.} 

_{The real estate taxes for the City of Sparta can be paid at the City Treasurer's Office located in the Sparta City Hall.}

_{Leaves are taken behind the City shop and are recycled into mulch. Brush and yard waste is taken to our brush dump on Hardwood Road, where it is made into wood chips. The public may drop these items off at these locations themselves, and may help themselves to wood chips if desired.}

_{All dogs over the age of 5 months of age are required to be licensed each calendar year before March 31st.} 

_{Dog licenses can be purchased at the Monroe County Sanitation Office located at 777 S Black River St. Suite #2 or at the Monroe County Animal Shelter located at 3100 W. Wisconsin St. Sparta City Hall will not be issuing dog licenses in 2026. Spayed or neutered animals are $20.00 and non-spayed or non-neutered animals are $35.00. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required to issue a dog license.} 

_{**Note: A $15 late fee will be issued after March 31st}

_{Assessment rolls and current tax rolls are located in the City Treasurer's Office. These documents are public information and can be viewed by any individual making the request to see them.}

Contact the contractor, GFL at (608) 269-4300.

_{Over time, mineral deposits can build up in our water pipes, so they are flushed twice a year (spring and fall) to remove some of these minerals and to prevent stagnation in our water supply. The specific dates will be advertised in the newspaper.}

_{The City only removes boulevard trees if they are potentially hazardous to the public. This can be because the tree is dead or dying, has been damaged in a storm, or presents a traffic hazard in some way. Trees will not be removed simply for the convenience of the property owner. Boulevard trees are trimmed to a height 15 above the street so that large vehicles do not hit them. If a property owner is concerned about a tree limb extending onto their property, they are free to trim that portion of the branches.}