As of Friday, contractors for the Public Works Department have hauled 2,163 truckloads of debris to the storm disposal site at Ledgerwood Field, council was told at its work session tonight.
Department Director Larry Chalker said that represents some 43,500 cubic yards of debris from Hurricane Irene in August.
Shavender Trucking has been grinding since September 28 and Rightmyer Machine Rentals continues to remove construction demolition debris.
Chalker said between 85 to 95 percent of the documentation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been completed.
Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon told council M.J. Price is scheduled to start cleanup of the parks and Canal Trail on Thursday, with the Canal Trail being the last part of that effort. “FEMA wanted to do a cut and toss,” he said. “I didn't think that was appropriate. We thought it would impact the aesthetics of the historic trail.”
Some 257 trees will have to be removed and some 36 stumps cut on parks and recreation property, Simeon said.
Chalker explained parks and recreation property was different because of ravines and remote areas like the trail. “It's not quite as quick as we've seen on the streets.”
The city incurred between $800,000 to $850,000 worth of damages.
Interim Police Chief Jeff Hinton said, “The city staff has worked very hard to be ahead of the curve,” so it can receive its funding as quickly as possible.”
Interim City Manager Ed Wyatt advised because of the costs associated with the storm, the city has to watch its spending carefully and has put some capital expenditures on hold until it sees how the money comes in.
Irene put a halt on the sidewalk paving project in the 200 block of the avenue, Chalker said. The project in that block is expected to be completed within the next three weeks.
Chalker acknowledged to Councilwoman Suetta Scarbrough that there were problems with some of the new lighting that was placed directly beside holly trees. He said he didn't have an immediate answer to the problem, although he expected the lighting would have to be moved.
In a matter related to the April tornado, council approved allowing the Employment Security Commission to continue having temporary office space at the Neighborhood Resource Center at Third and Jackson streets through the end of November.
In another matter tonight, council was told by Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky the state Department of Commerce's Office of Community Investment and Assistance has given the city an additional $250,000 to expand the scope of the Henry Street Community Development Block Grant project. A public hearing on the matter will be held at next week's meeting.
