DEBRIS REMOVAL GUIDELINES
• Move all debris to the curb lines
• Debris should be placed in piles by category: brush or construction and demolition debris such as furniture, shingles, metal and fixtures
• Do not place debris in plastic bags
• Continue calling 311 for brush collection
• Avoid placing debris in drainage ditches or around utility poles, fire hydrants, mail boxes or other structures
Source: Chattanooga
Chattanooga will begin a massive cleanup of storm debris and brush on Monday as the city continues to recuperate from the massive storms that blew down trees and damaged houses more than a month ago.
Contractors will head to Brainerd first.
“I think the people have been patiently waiting,” said Councilwoman Carol Berz, who represents most of the Brainerd area. “In some areas, it was a safety hazard.”
Several twisters rolled through the region April 27, killing about 80 people and leaving homes and businesses from Rainsville, Ala., to Ringgold, Ga., to Apison in ruins. Straight-line winds and tornadoes also left debris — from ripped-up trees to shredded roof shingles — piled in people’s yards in Chattanooga.
On Tuesday, the City Council approved an agreement with two North Carolina-based contractors to pick up the storm debris. Byrd Brothers Emergency Services will pick up the debris while True North Emergency Services acts as a monitor to ensure all debris is picked up properly, said Lee Norris, deputy administrator of the city’s Department of Public Works.
The contractors will be paid up to $2.5 million, based upon how much debris is collected.
Norris said Friday the contractors will work section by section across the entire city. The sections will be determined by garbage collection days, he said. Next week, the contractors will focus on areas with Monday garbage pickup.
The idea is to remove most of the debris in three to four weeks.
“The contractor will do one complete sweep of the city,” Norris said, then there will be a slight break and the contractor will move through a second time, collecting any remaining debris.
The contractor will only pick up debris in the right-of-way. The two debris collection points on Lee and Cummings highways will be shut down to the general public as the contractors take debris to the sites, he said.
Norris said brush should be separated from construction and demolition materials.
City Council Chairwoman Pam Ladd said using out-of-town workers to get the job done is the right strategy. Public Works officials have said in the past it could take up to 18 weeks for their employees to remove all debris.
She said the city needed a new method to collect the leftover brush and debris from an unprecedented natural disaster.
“This was an event unparalleled,” she said.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
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and/or Ethics policy. follow profile comments friends v1955g said... First of all, why does it make sense to use "out of town contractors"? And if anyone would like to see their 12.5% at work(2.5million X 12.5 =$312,500.00)drive to the Navajo-Germantown Rd area. The "out of town contractor" was here again this morning and picked up one small brush pile.I think it may have fit in my wife's Bug. They are gone again after 10-15 minutes. Their equipment is a joke. They show up in their personal vehicles because they all can't ride in the one truck they have. It may be a 1 2/2 ton with home made wooden sideboards. They have been here 3 times and maybe a total of 4 hours. They have not put a dent in the 3 huge trees piled up on our street. The skid steer they have is only big enough for small brush. They walk around with a clipboard in hand for 5 minutes or so and are gone again. What a joke. We were fortunate in this area that no one lost their life. I am thankful for that. My "gripe" is the wastefulness of our tax dollars, for what seems to be a "fly-by-night contractor".Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of this devastating storm.
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