MECHANICSBURG – Village Council learned on Monday that despite equipment issues, leaf pickup is underway.

Village Administrator April Huggins-Davis reported that she and other village employees have started picking up leaves and will continue to do so until late next week. The task has been slowed by an issue with the leaf box spraying leaves in every direction due to its deteriorating condition.

“We keep patching it every day to try to keep the leaves in the box instead of them shooting out into the middle of the street,” Huggins-Davis said, adding leaves will be picked up, weather permitting, every day until Nov. 13.

“After Nov. 13, the only way we are going to pick any leaves up is if they are bagged,” Huggins-Davis said. “Also, you can mow your lawn and mulch your leaves.”

During the meeting, Sgt. Jeremy Nangle of the Mechanicsburg Police Department informed council he and others in the department are participating in the “No Shave November” event.

Along with not shaving their facial hair for a month, participants will donate $40 each to help raise money for the local community coat drive.

Although the department has a strict grooming policy, Police Chief John Alexander said, administration has agreed to dismiss the policy for officers participating in the event.

In other business:

•The village office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

•The project to rehab portions of Park Avenue, Walnut Street and Pleasant Street using permissive tax funds has been completed.

•Nangle reported the police department is purchasing its fuel from Heritage Cooperative instead of Marathon.

“We get a federal tax reduction of 5 cents a gallon through (Heritage),” he said.