to the
J-E!
|
|
Subscribe to the J-E! |
|
Subscribe to
JournalEnterprise.com |
Debris removal finally beginning
by Gwen Bolin--gbolin@journalenterprise.com
Less than a week after the city awarded the debris removal bid to IED, they were hauling away some of the town’s troubles. “We began dumping the first loads on Friday,” said IED President Lawrence Green. Debris is being hauled to a dump site outside Dixon owned by Walker Excavating. Heavy equipment owned by IED began moving into Providence the first part of last week. “We’ve brought in three rubber-tired excavators, a knuckle boom and four skid steer loaders,” said Green. “We also have 14 trucks with a capacity to haul between 40 to 90 cubic yards each.” Although IED is fully equipped for the job, Green said, “We will be using as many sub-contractors as possible. We have already begun hiring and will be giving priority to contractors in the affected area.” The contract between IED and the city includes two phases of debris removal. The initial phase includes curbside pickup. This will encompass all city right-of-ways on streets, alleys, drainage ditches, tributaries and any other public property. Crews began working on Westerfield Drive Thursday. Another crew began the task of debris pickup on Baptist Hill Friday. A minimum of three complete passes throughout the city will be made with a minimum of two weeks between passes to allow residents to continue to move debris to the right-of-ways for pickup. Debris fits into two categories and must be hauled to different areas for disposal. Vegetation debris should be separated from construction and demolition debris. “Property owners also need to keep debris away from utility meters and lines if at all possible,” said Green. “We don’t know where these meters are when we’re removing a pile of debris. It would certainly make things go a lot smoother if people could keep that in mind.” Stacking debris away from mailboxes or other objects residents would like to keep intact would be helpful as well. The second phase of debris removal will entail entering private property to haul off debris that has been declared a health and safety hazard by Codes Administrator Brad Curry, as well as state and federal officials. “We have begun a list of properties that meet the required criteria,” said Curry. “If any residents feel their property might qualify for debris removal, they need to contact the utility office at 667-2170.” During the right-of-entry phase of clean-up, Green foresees needing more local help. “We will be utilizing contractors who have excavators with thumbs or grapples,” Green said. “A lot of people were offering bulldozers, but we’ve been doing this for a long time and that’s not the most efficient way to do this.” Contractors with skid loaders or trucks with a minimum capacity of 30 cubic yards will also be needed at that time. “It would not be cost-efficient for the guy with a smaller truck to haul because it’s about 15 miles to the dump site and he will be paid by the cubic yard,” commented Green. “A coal trailer would be ideal.” IED will also be employing personnel to work as flaggers and equipment operators. Anyone interested in employment with IED should bring their application to IED’s portable office situated in the back of the old Hoov-R-Line building on Donan Drive in Providence. “Someone should be at the office most of the time,” said Green. For more information call 667-7750. If no one is available to answer the phone, calls will be automatically forwarded to IED’s home office. Jeff Green, Lawrence Green’s father and IED founder, began disaster contracting in 1965 after Hurricane Betsy struck New Orleans. The business has been incorporated since 1990 and has removed remaining debris for federally declared disasters all over the country.
|
|
Main Page |
News |
Sports |
Features |
Obituaries |
Columns Letters | About Us | Weather | Archives | Subscribe |
