Two years ago, Akron had perfect fall and winter weather for the city’s leaf pickup, with snow basically holding off until the first of the year and crews able to blow through each ward on schedule.Last fall was the opposite; snow hit in November and did not let up. The city wasn’t able to finish its leaf pickup until March.This year, weather forecasters are calling for another rough winter and say it could hit early.Akron officials hope those predictions are wrong. They are counting on Mother Nature waiting to unleash her wrath until the city’s leaf crews have made their rounds. (The same employees handle both leaf pickup and snow plowing.)“I can’t imagine much worse for leaf pickup,” said Paul Barnett, Akron’s public works manager, shivering at the memory of last season. “That was one of the worst-case scenarios. I’m anticipating better, even if we get a harsher winter.”For the third year, Akron will offer only one leaf pickup per ward— a money-saving measure started in 2009. The first pickups are expected to be Oct. 31 in Ward 3, with the last Dec. 7 in Ward 5.Residents who have gotten overly eager and already have raked leaves into the street might want to move them. The city, which is concerned about traffic hazards and drainage problems, has warned several residents to remove leaves from the street.If the leaves aren’t placed elsewhere within 24 hours, the resident might be charged the cost of sending employees out to assess the leaves and pick them up, which runs between $200 and $400, Barnett said.“Don’t put leaves out until you see yard postings in the tree lawns,” Barnett advised.City employees post these signs just before they are ready to collect in an area.The schedule this year starts with Wards 3, 10 and 7 at the tail end of this month and the first of November; followed by Wards 6, 1, 8 and 4 spread out through November; and finishing with Wards 9, 2 and 5 in early December.Residents who don’t want to wait until their assigned pickup date can bag their own leaves and call the 311 line to request one of the two free bulk pickups they are allowed each year. Or they can put leaves in biodegradable bags and store them until their ward pickup starts.Residents can check for changes to the pickup schedule on the city’s website — www.ci.akron.oh.us/ — or by calling the 311 information line.The city collected about 48,000 cubic tons of leaves last year, down from about 50,000 the year before.Akron sells its leaves to a company that uses them to make topsoil, netting the city about $1,500, Barnett said.Deputy Service Director John Valle said crews might return to the wards that are earliest on the schedule. He said residents can request a second pickup by calling 311.“We’re not done until they’re all picked up,” he said.City employees turn to Valle each year for his prediction of the coming winter. He was calling for a milder winter, figuring Akron was due, but began questioning his projection when he saw the Farmer’s Almanac predicted another bad one.“I don’t know what ‘bad’ means,” Service Director Rick Merolla joked, teasing Valle about his predictions.Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.