Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan made the observation during the council’s service delivery committee meeting in Balclutha yesterday afternoon, the last of four committee meetings held yesterday.
His comments were directed towards the council’s transport and facilities operations manager Henri van Zyl, during Mr van Zyl’s report to the committee.
Mr Cadogan said recently he had received compliments from residents regarding two key areas of council maintenance that, historically, had proven matters of contention.
These were rural road maintenance and leaf-drop from urban trees, he said.
"I note we’re receiving bouquets rather than the usual brickbats in regard to road maintenance lately.
"The comments I’m getting are that we seem to be keeping ahead of rural road maintenance rather than fighting bushfires all the time, and people are happier as a result."
The change appeared to be a result of targeting known problem areas for regular grading, rather than reacting to service requests to fix issues that had already occurred, he said.
Mr Cadogan said he had also been visiting Milton regularly to observe the degree and effects of leaf-drop from main street trees.
Milton is due to receive a $5million main street upgrade shortly, which will include the addition of several new trees.
During consultation on the project, the inclusion and placing of trees raised vocal concerns among business owners and others in the community.
Mr Cadogan said council contractors were doing an "excellent job" maintaining the town’s main business district.
"I’ve been keeping a careful note of leaf-drop from the town’s current trees, and I have to say it’s been spotless.
