Year-Round Safety Reminders
The Five W's for Calling 9-1-1
Hilliard City Schools Start Times
Curfew Information
"My Columbus" Smartphone Application
Trash Collection Basics
Recycling Tips
Waste Wizard
Household Hazardous-Waste Collection
Animal Control
Call Before You Dig!
Columbia Service Partners
Crime & Safety
Door-to-Door Sales
Ohio Mulch
Rules of the Road
Sidewalk Repair & Tree Removal
Zoning
Year-Round Safety Reminders
Please remember to keep your porch light on throughout the night; to keep your garage doors closed at all times; and to shovel your sidewalks to keep them safe and clear for your neighbors.
The Five W's for Calling 9-1-1
The following information was provided to us by the Columbus Police Department:
The 5 W's to remember when calling 9-1-1
- WHERE is the emergency occurring? At your current location or a different location?
- WHAT is going on/why is this happening (Ten Code)?
- WHEN did the emergency occur?
- WHO is involved; give a description of suspect and/or vehicle including license tag.
- WEAPONS – are there any involved? What type of weapon and who has the weapon?"
Hilliard City Schools Start Times
Ridgewood Elementary School
Ridgewood Elementary's main bell is at 8:50 a.m.; the tardy bell follows at 9:05 a.m. The dismissal bell for bus riders is at 3:30 p.m.; dismissal for car pickup and walkers is 3:35 p.m.
Tharp Sixth Grade School
Tharp's main bell is at 7:45 a.m.; the tardy bell follows at 7:55 a.m. The dismissal bell is at 2:40 p.m.
Weaver Middle School
Weaver's main bell is at 7:45 a.m.; the tardy bell follows at 7:55 a.m. The dismissal bell is at 2:40 p.m.
Davidson High School
Davidson's main bell is at 7:20 a.m.; the tardy bell follows at 7:40 a.m. The dismissal bell is at 2:32 p.m.
Curfew Information
According to the City of Columbus, curfew for children younger than 13 is one hour after sunset and curfew for children 13 to 17 is midnight. Curfew for all minors ends at 4:30 a.m.
"My Columbus" Smartphone Application
The City of Columbus offers a free application for iPhones, iPads, and Droids designed to keep you up-to-date with and in-the-know about what's going on in our city.
With this app, you can "easily select and map government buildings, local entertainment and retail venues, as well as other useful Columbus sites...access an events calendar, park and trail guides, and tips from prominent community members on healthy eating and exercise...submit service requests from [your] mobile devices...[and learn about] sustainable behavior with environmental facts and pointers."1
As an added benefit, this application will send you an alert informing you of the current trash, recycling, and yard-waste collection schedule.
"My Columbus" is a great way to interact with our hometown. Download the app today!
Source: "My Columbus" Mobile Application Homepage
Trash Collection Basics
Columbus Trash Collection Schedule
You can generate a printable full-year trash, recycling, and yard-waste collection calendar by searching for your address on the City of Columbus Call Center website.
You can also visit The Glen's Google Calendar to stay current on our refuse collection schedule.
"Where do I place my wheeled container?"
From the City of Columbus Department of Public Service:
- Place your container at your designated collection point before 6:00 a.m. (but no more than 12 hours prior to collection).
- Please call the 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111 if you do not know your designated collection point.
- Remove your container from the collection point no more than 24 hours after collection and keep it in a secure place."
Recycling Tips
Some things to remember when you're deciding what is recyclable:
- Caps must remain on bottles. Please flatten plastic bottles before reattaching the cap.
- Plastic clamshells from salads, berries, etc., are not recyclable.
- Prescription bottles are not recyclable.
- Plastic bags are not recyclable through Rumpke. They can, however, be brought to most supermarkets or to Staples.
- Pizza boxes need to be cleaned out, and the greasy paper should be discarded in the trash.
- Cartons and boxes should be flattened.
- Tubs from butter and yogurt are not recyclable.
- Yard waste should never be placed in our blue recycling containers.
Waste Wizard
Can't recall whether a particular item is recyclable? Just ask the Waste Wizard!
Provided by the Columbus Department of Public Services, Waste Wizard is a wonderful resource that can help you determine exactly what is recyclable and where. Give it a try today!
Household Hazardous-Waste Collection
The permanent household hazardous-waste center is located at 645 East 8th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43201, on the corner of East 8th and Essex Avenue. The facility is open on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The permanent household hazardous-waste center is closed on holidays. Click here for more information.
Animal Control
Confining Your Dog
STATE LAW
Source: Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22C
All dogs regardless of age must be kept confined on the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer at all times. Acceptable methods of confinement include a fence, a tethering device, a dog pen, inside a house or garage, or under adequate supervision. If you are walking your dog off of your property, you must maintain reasonable control over your dog so that it doesn't run away (the best way to do this is to keep the dog on a leash). The maximum penalties for violations of this section are a $150 fine on the first offense, and a $250 fine and 30 days imprisonment for subsequent offenses.
COLUMBUS LAW
Source: Columbus City Code § 2327.01 & 2327.20
No animal shall be tethered with a tow chain, log chain, padlock chain, or any type of tether unsuitable for the animal's size and weight. The tether cannot be become entangled or reach the property of another, sidewalk, or road. Animals cannot be tethered using a pinch, prong or choker type collar. They cannot be tethered between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. unattended, or with a heat/cold advisory or severe weather warning.
"Noisy Animals" Ordinance
From the Columbus, Ohio, Code of Ordinances, Title 23, Chapter 2327 - Animals:
2327.14 - Noisy animals.
(A)
No person shall keep or harbor any animal which howls, barks, or emits audible sounds that are unreasonably loud or disturbing and which are of such character, intensity and duration as to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or to be detrimental to life and health of any individual.
(B)
Whoever violates this section is guilty of keeping noisy animals, a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, then keeping noisy animals is a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of two or more violations of this section, then keeping noisy animals is misdemeanor of the first degree.
(C)
Strict liability is intended to be imposed for a violation of this section.
(Ord. 2535-94; Ord. 2220-2006 § 1 (part).)
Barking Dogs
Stuck listening to a barking dog? First things first: Don't call 9-1-1.
So, what should you do? 10TV.com's got you covered.
Franklin County Department of Animal Care & Control
Main Office Telephone: 614-525-3400
Hours of Operation: Deputy Warden(s) on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call Before You Dig!
From the Ohio Utilities Protection Service:
"By law, everyone MUST contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service, 8-1-1 or 1-800-362-2764, at least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) before beginning ANY digging project."
"A vital resource for Ohio residents and businesses alike, the Ohio Utilities Protection Service acts as a communication link between utility companies and individuals planning any digging activity. This site includes all the information you need to dig safely and protect your community."
"ORC Sec. 3781.28. (A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (C), (D), (E), and (F) of this section, at least forty-eight hours but not more than ten working days before commencing excavation, the excavator shall notify a protection service of the location of the excavation site and the date on which excavation is planned to commence."
"*Please note that the Ohio Revised Code defines excavator as “the person or persons responsible for making the actual excavation” (ORC Sec. 3781.25 (K)). Therefore, while O.U.P.S.will not refuse a ticket from any caller, we advise the actual excavator place the call to O.U.P.S., receive their own ticket number and wait the required 48 hours in order to be compliant with Ohio law.*"
Columbia Service Partners
Columbia Service Partners (thru Columbia Gas) offers sewage and water line guarantees for extremely reasonable rates. It is not necessary to have gas lines for this insurance. Their number is 1-888-442-7349. A qualified contractor will call you to schedule your repair or replacement.
Crime & Safety
9-1-1 Informational Flyer
The Columbus Police Department has issued a flyer with important information regarding emergencies, non-emergencies, and 9-1-1 calls. It's full of facts and tips you should know about calling 9-1-1. Take a look today! (Click here to view the flyer.)
Tips to Prevent Car Break-Ins
Courtesy of Sharon Rastatter, 15 Precinct Community Relations Coordinator.Lock car doors and bring all valuables – including car and house keys – inside. Do not "save the cost of a replacement window" by leaving vehicles unlocked. If a car's door is locked and there’s nothing visible to steal, more often than not a thief will move on.
Criminals notice when houses do not look lived-in. Stop mail and newspaper deliveries before going away, or arrange for a neighbor to pick them up while you're gone. Your neighbors can also bring in empty trash and recycling bins from the curb.
If you’re going to be away for an extended period, ask your neighbors to make it look like someone's home. During the summer, they can mow your lawn; in the winter, they can shovel or drive a car up and down your driveway.
If you see something, say something. Call the Columbus Police non-emergency number – (614) 645-4545 – to report suspicious situations. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911.
Precautionary Safety Measures
Below are some basic precautionary safety measures provided by other neighborhood civic associations to help keep us all safe.
- It is never a good idea to allow a stranger or a solicitor into your home.
- Lock your doors and windows, particularly when you are going to bed.
- Turn on your outside lights (this is probably one of the most critical things you can do to avoid becoming a victim).
- If you do not have outside lights, get them and light up your entryways.
- Make a habit of setting your alarm if you have one.
- If you hear someone jiggling or otherwise messing with your door and you are not expecting guests, please call the police (911 or 645-4545) and let the police check out this activity.
- If you see a suspicious vehicle, focus on specfic details: make, model, and general description; color and distinguishing features (such as dents, bumper stickers, roof rack, etc.); if you can only focus on one feature, try to get the license plate number; note features about the suspects involved as well.
This kind of experience is frightening, and it is hard to think clearly because they usually happen so quickly. Practice noticing these kinds of details so that if you would face a similar situation, you may be able to remain more focused.
Tip from the 15th Precinct
When throwing away large boxes from appliances (TVs, microwaves, video equipment, electronics, etc.), please break them down and do not let them stick out of your garbage can. Thieves drive through neighborhoods on trash night, checking to see what residents have purchased.
Tips from IMPACT Safety
The following information was provided by Julie Harmon from IMPACT Safety, a non-profit organization that teaches practical skills to enhance personal safety. IMPACT suggests following these safety precautions:
- Always lock your doors and windows.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- When possible, travel as a group. There is safety in numbers.
- Avoid walking in isolated areas.
- Do not load yourself down with bags or packages that may restrict your ability to defend yourself or slow down your ability to run.
- Keep your cell phone nearby and ready to summon emergency help if necessary.
- Do not walk with headphones in both ears.
- Change your daily routine, as suspects often watch their victims before committing crimes. If you walk your dogs daily at 6:15 in the morning, consider walking them at 6:30 or 6:45. If you go to work at 7:40 every morning, try leaving at 7:30 or 7:50. Keeping a strict routine can make you an easier target for criminals.
- If something does not feel right, trust your instincts.
- Yell, scream, and fight if you are attacked. Statistics show that any form of determined resistance helps break off an attack. Most attackers do not expect resistance.
- Keep your front and back porch lights on at night. One of the most effective things we can do to deter criminals is to keep our community well lit. One light can make a difference.
- Take time to bring in valuables from the car. Remove or hide your GPS system.
- Shut your garage door.
- Beware of helping a stranger who appears to need assistance. You can call the police to help him or her instead.
- Keep a record of all your valuables (including any serial numbers), take pictures of these items, and keep the records and photographs in a safe place.
Door-to-Door Sales
The Glen Civic Association has received questions about individuals selling products or services door-to-door. In city of Columbus neighborhoods few people are aware of the rules peddlers must follow.
"Commercial sales promoters" must be licensed in order to work within the Columbus city limits. Door-to-door salespeople must display orange licenses on their person. Columbus code also prohibits promoters from selling after 6 p.m.
Selling door to door without a license is a third-degree misdemeanor in Columbus, punishable by 60 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. If a commercial sales promoter who is not visibly displaying the proper license contacts you, you should report it immediately to the Columbus Police non-emergency number: 614-645-4545.
Assistant City Attorney Bill Hedrick has stated in the past that two things make it difficult to enforce the code: First, often the peddlers are from out of town; and second, police have to catch them in the act for them to be prosecuted.
Exemptions include: Individuals or groups selling samples; agricultural products sold by their producers; organizations holding a valid charitable-solicitations permit; evangelical, missionary, or religious organizations; any college, university, or school; and scouting organizations.
Ohio Mulch
Glen residents can dispose of their yard waste at the Ohio Mulch free yard-waste drop-off location, 4120 Roberts Road, Columbus (Ohio Mulch). Its phone number is 614-921-9330. Please call ahead for hours of operation and please be prepared with a driver’s license or some form of documentation identifying you as a Columbus resident, otherwise you will be charged.
For more information on trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup, residents can:
- Call the Columbus Call Center at 614-645-3111 (311 from many home phones) for information about trash pickup.
- Call Rumpke at 1-800-828-8171 for information about the collection of yard waste and subscription recycling.
- Look up their collection days on the Columbus 311 Web site.
Electronics Recycling
If you are looking for a place to recycle old CD-ROMs, computers, etc., look no further than Ohio Mulch on Roberts Road. A Glen resident also recommends donating old computers to Pastors for Peace, which will erase the hard drives and ship the computers to people in need in Central and South America.
Rules of the Road
From the City of Columbus Department of Public Service:
Rules of the Road for Bicyclists
- Obey all traffic laws, including stopping for red lights and stop signs
- Ride with traffic, do not pass automobiles in your lane on the right
- Keep your eyes and mind on the road, do not be a distracted bicyclist
- Wear a properly fitting helmet, even on the shortest of rides
- Do not ride on sidewalks (Under City of Columbus Code, only young children are permitted to ride on sidewalks)
- Keep your bike in working order
- Use proper hand signals prior to turning or slowing to stop
- Ride single file or no more than two abreast
- Ride predictably
- Be visible: Wear bright clothing, use a bicycle headlight and a tail light at night and in rain or other inclement weather"
Rules of the Road for Motorists
- Remember, bicyclists by law belong on the road and have the same right-of-way rights as motorists
- Keep your eyes and mind on the road, do not be a distracted motorist
- Pass with care, allowing at least three feet between you and the bicyclist
- When making a left turn, yield to oncoming bikes
- Before making a right turn, check over your right shoulder for bicycles approaching to your right
- Remember: By law, bicyclists may move to the center of the lane to avoid road hazards or due to the narrowness of the lane. Bicyclists may change lanes when making a left turn, passing parked vehicles or slower moving vehicles and moving left out of a right turn-only lane to proceed straight through an intersection.
- Look for approaching bicyclists before opening you car doors
- Don’t blast your horn when approaching bicyclists
- Wait to pass if there is oncoming traffic or your view of oncoming traffic is obstructed
- When pulling out of a driveway, watch for and yield to bicyclists as you would with any approaching automobile"
For more information, please visit http://publicservice.columbus.gov/bike/.
Sidewalk Repair & Tree Removal
Updated 12/21/19
Trees in the City of Columbus right-of-way are considered city trees. If your sidewalk is buckling, etc., because of roots from city trees, the city will incur the cost of repairing your sidewalk. The city will also try to save the tree but, if necessary, will remove it.
This is contradictory to previous guidance received from the city regarding sidewalk problems caused by trees in the city right-of-way. In the past homeowner's were responsible for the cost of repairs to their sidewalks. This is no longer true for sidewalks damaged as a result of city trees.
Please call 311 for additional, up-to-date information regarding Columbus's sidewalk repair and tree removal program.
The first step in repairing a sidewalk is to have the trees removed. Please call 311 and they will take the information and send someone out to assess the situation. If they feel the trees and roots should be removed, they will report it to the proper division to have that done.
After the trees are removed, you can call to have your sidewalks repaired. A-1 Concrete (Leveling) will offer group discounts to those wanting to have maintenance completed. Please call 575-0123 for details about these group rates and discounts. Let’s try to keep our sidewalks safe for our neighbors and local children.
Zoning
Fences
Click here to view an overview of the city's fence regulations.
(Please note: This document is not maintained by The Glen Civic Association, and its contents are not guaranteed to be accurate. Please contact the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services at (614) 645-8637 with additional questions.)
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