The Spring Cleanup Event allows residents to dispose of large household items on their regular trash collection day at no additional charge. All smaller items must be placed in bags or boxes. The average Johnston household pays around $6 per year (included in your monthly utility bill) for this Spring Cleanup Event, so take advantage of it! If you live in an apartment, condo, or townhome with private trash collection, you may not be a part of the Spring Cleanup Event. Please contact your association or management to find out.

Please place your items on the curb by 6 a.m. on Monday, Apr. 19, or Tuesday, Apr. 20, depending upon which day is your designated trash collection day. Collection may last through Wednesday, Apr. 21, due to the volume of the collection.

The City of Johnston is planning to develop the Johnston Commons area (just north of the Library) into a public park. The initial development will include a large playground, shelter with a restroom and basketball court.

The City would appreciate input before finalizing the design. A public meeting is planned for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, at the site. Renderings for each amenity location will be available, and the City will discuss the project's timing. In the event of weather, the meeting will be moved to the library's meeting room.

For more information, visit www.cityofjohnston.com/JohnstonCommonsPark.

Johnston residents can drop off branches, limbs and passenger vehicle tires at the Public Works Facility, located at 6400 NW Beaver Drive, at no cost. Please bring your ID for proof of residency.

Branches cannot be larger than 18 inches in diameter. Tree debris will be turned into mulch.

Tires must be off the rim; limit four tires per household.

Tires from businesses are not accepted.

Drop-off Hours:
• Thursday, Apr. 22 - 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
• Friday, Apr. 23 - 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Apr. 24 - 8 a.m. to noon

Johnston residents can drop off branches, limbs and passenger vehicle tires at the Public Works Facility, located at 6400 NW Beaver Drive, at no cost. Please bring your ID for proof of residency.

Branches cannot be larger than 18 inches in diameter. Tree debris will be turned into mulch.

Tires must be off the rim; limit four tires per household.

Tires from businesses are not accepted.

Drop-off Hours:
• Thursday, Apr. 22 - 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
• Friday, Apr. 23 - 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Apr. 24 - 8 a.m. to noon

Mark your calendars for Friday, Apr. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. for the Earth Day Trash Bash! This event is part of a large effort covering project locations throughout Greater Des Moines.

We will pick up trash and pull invasive species at Terra Park! Those interested in participating will meet at Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Pkwy.

Johnston residents can drop off branches, limbs and passenger vehicle tires at the Public Works Facility, located at 6400 NW Beaver Drive, at no cost. Please bring your ID for proof of residency.

Branches cannot be larger than 18 inches in diameter. Tree debris will be turned into mulch.

Tires must be off the rim; limit four tires per household.

Tires from businesses are not accepted.

Drop-off Hours:
• Thursday, Apr. 22 - 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
• Friday, Apr. 23 - 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Apr. 24 - 8 a.m. to noon

The Johnston Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration want to help make homes safe by destroying all expired or unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications during a community Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 24 at the Johnston Public Safety Building, located at 6373 Merle Hay Rd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The purpose of the drop off is to help residents remove potentially dangerous substances from their medicine cabinets by establishing a safe collection site. The service is free and anonymous, no questions will be asked.

Any solid dosage form of pharmaceutical products such as tablets, capsules, and patches will be accepted. Liquids, needles, sharps, inhalers, syringes, IV solutions and other biohazard materials will NOT be accepted.

Celebrate kite flying month and prepare for Kites on the Green 2021 by participating in one of our pop-up kite flying events. The events will be held on April 10th, 17th and 24th from 11-1 p.m. and will feature a few giant show kites. Come out to pick up your kite-making kit and enjoy time with your family by practice flying kites before our annual Kites on the Green event on May 1, 2021.

For information on how to build your kite from the kit, visit bit.ly/KiteMakingKit.

Removing invasive species is one piece of supporting a thriving, healthy ecosystem. The living world and all its systems are complex. Invasive species are non-native species that disrupt the structure of these networks and partnerships. However, removing invasive species should never be considered the final step. It is essential to understand that continuous stress to a natural community can have long-lasting impacts. Proactively managing invasive species is, therefore, better than waiting until the species has taken over, and supporting a robust, resistant system is even better. For example, if a diverse habitat is being supported that has sunlight and shade and a tree falls, sun-loving plants are nearby to fill the new hole. As the trees grow taller and cast more shade to the area, the shade-tolerant plants of other shady areas are available to step up.

This event will take place at the Beaver Creek Natural Resource Area.

View the agendas and minutes online in Board Docs. Once you are on the Board Docs page, click on the building in the upper right-hand corner to view the appropriate board and commission agenda.

View the agendas and minutes online in Board Docs. Once you are on the Board Docs page, click on the building in the upper right-hand corner to view the appropriate board and commission agenda.