City preparing for storm debris cleanup

City residents can begin putting tree branches and limbs within 10 feet of their curb. Crews could begin picking up storm debris as early as December 19 – at no charge to citizens.

The City is hiring contractors to collect storm debris from residential curbsides. Crews will begin cleanup in the City’s core and work their way to the outlying areas. Each neighborhood will have two opportunities for pick up.

“If you don’t get your debris to the curb in time or it’s not all collected in the first round, please be patient,” City Manager Jim Couch said. “Crews will make another round.”

City officials estimate it may take several months to clean up all debris left by the ice storm.

Storm debris will not be collected with monthly bulk waste collection. Residents should keep their bulk waste separated from their storm debris.

“After the debris contractors have completed two rounds, bulk waste collection crews will pick up storm debris on the monthly collection days,” Solid Waste Manager Jim Linn said.

"We will be just as diligent in storm debris cleanup as we were with clearing the streets of ice but it will take some time to remove all the tree branches and limbs left by the ice storm, Couch added. We expect to pick up thousands of tons of debris, so we are asking citizens to be patient through this cleanup process.”

While contractors clean up the residential areas, City crews will focus on public areas like parks, streets, medians and the downtown area.

# # #