Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on snow operations, recycling and yard waste services to resume next week, the living Christmas tree program, a sneak peek at the new gateway signs, a reminder about the Toys for Tots drive, and information on businesses licenses.

Please contact me with any and all feedback regarding the articles below. I can be reached at GThomas@MonroeWA.gov.

Yours in Service,

CITY PLOWS AND FIELD STAFF READY TO GO

The City has three snowplows serviced and ready to clear more than 52 lane miles as we experience inclement weather. The Public Works Department will be available for around-the-clock snow removal for all roads. If snowfall or freezing rain continues or resumes before the City has been able to clear your street, please understand that all efforts continue on priority routes for public safety. Once the City is able to clear priority routes, non-designated streets may be serviced.

Crews will put down anti-icer on City streets and around intersections in advance of forecasted snow. For more information on winter weather response, please visit our Snow and Ice Removal page. You can also reach City Hall at (360) 794-7400 or log a concern online here.

RECYCLING & YARD WASTE COLLECTION TO RESUME NEXT WEEK

Republic Services attempted to collect as much garbage as possible this week given the road conditions. Recycling and yard waste will not be collected until next week's pickup; please keep recycling clean and dry as much as you are able. On your next collection day, they will collect up to two times the regular amount of garbage and yard waste. Extra recycling is always collected for free.

For additional information, please see Republic Service's Monroe specific webpage. You may also speak to a Customer Care Representative at (425) 778-0188 (residential) or (425) 778-6508 (commercial). Thank you for your help!

LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE PROGRAM

If you are planning to purchase a Christmas tree soon, consider purchasing a living tree. If you purchase a living tree in a container and don’t intend to plant it on your own property, you may donate it to our local Monroe City parks so that everyone can enjoy it for years to come. Call the Parks & Recreation office at (360) 863-4559 for information on how to donate your potted living Christmas tree. You may find suitable living Christmas trees for sale at the following local area businesses:

Fred Meyer - 18805 St Route 2, Monroe; 360-805-1996

Pine Creek Farms and Nursery - 23225 Sofie Rd, Monroe; 360-863-8866

Falling Water Gardens - 17516 WA-203, Monroe; 360-863-1400

A SNEAK PEAK AT THE NEW GATEWAY SIGNS

The fabricators are wrapping up the city's new downtown gateway signs and information kiosks. We expect the new signs will be installed at the corner of Blakeley and Main Street before Christmas. What a great way to start the new year. Stay tuned for more wayfinding signs coming to Monroe in 2023. The new signs are part of a larger project to install gateway and wayfinding signs throughout Monroe. For more information, please visit the City's website.

TWO MORE WEEKS OF TOYS FOR TOTS

You may remember from a recent edition of Monroe This Week that we recently kicked off our toy donation drive supporting Toys for Tots. This collaborative drive between the City of Monroe and Monroe Police Department will help bring some holiday magic to children who may need it. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Monroe City Hall (806 W Main St) or the Monroe Police Department (818 W Main St) now through December 15. We're open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Toys for Tots, a national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides happiness and hope to disadvantaged children during each holiday season. The toys, books and other gifts collected and distributed by the Marines offer these children recognition, confidence, and positive memories for a lifetime. We are excited to be supporting them as a community again! A special thank you USMC Veteran and Monroe Police Officer Shaun Van Eaton for organizing this donation drive every year.

DO YOU NEED A BUSINESS LICENSE?

If you’re pondering the idea of getting a business up and running to sell some goodies around the holidays, don’t forget to get a business license!

Who needs a business license? To put it simply, if you’re located in city limits or doing more than $2,000 worth of work within city limits, you’ll need to apply. The City of Monroe has partnered with the Washington State Department of Revenue to streamline the application process. You can apply for both state and local business licenses by visiting the DOR website.

Unsure if your business requires a license? Reach out to the Community Development Department for some guidance. Give them a call at (360) 863-4511 or check out our website.

The City Council will next meet in a Business Meeting on Tuesday, December 6. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format; members of the public may participate in Monroe City Council meetings both in-person at City Hall and remotely via the Zoom remote meeting platform. Participation information will be posted with the December 6 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.