DTS Inc. crews will be driving seven dump trucks through Red Bank this week to pick up tree debris sitting on citizens’ curbs. Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that 18,000 tons of tree debris will be picked up in the city.
“We want to stress that Red Bank citizens need to put their tree debris at the curb as soon as possible for DTS to pick up,” said City Manager Chris Dorsey. “We are just picking up vegetative debris such as tree branches and leaves. The tornadoes in Red Bank were EF2s that sucked up trees and knocked trees on houses and roads.”
DTS crews began working in Red Bank June 20 and will continue picking up city brush on at least two daily runs June 22-25.
Red Bank Public Works Director Wayne Hamill said monitors trained through FEMA will keep tickets on tree debris pickups and make sure it is being removed from public property only. Dorsey said DTS will not pick up tree debris left by contractors and that according to the law, contractors must remove trees that they cut.
According to Dorsey, the city of Red Bank signed a contact June 15 with DTS that will not exceed $1,010,880. FEMA estimates each ton will cost $56.16 to pick up. The city will pay an additional $234,000 to dispose of the debris at Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center.
The city will be reimbursed 87.5 percent of expenses from FEMA and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency combined.
Dorsey said the tree debris is the result of two tornadoes that touched down in Red Bank in late February and on April 27. The northern neighborhoods of Red Bank experienced the most damage, but pockets throughout the city were hit.
“I would like to thank the citizens of Red Bank for their patience in the tree debris removal process,” said Hamill.