Cleanup: 50 miles of city streets need cleanup, only two cleared so far

One week after a severe storm that knocked down a significant number of trees across the city, crews are still hard at work clearing brush and debris. An update on cleanup efforts was released by the city today.

City officials are in the process of refining the estimate of both the scope and corresponding cost of this clean up. A meeting of Dakota County city officials regarding countywide damage estimates to provide for federal review and possible reimbursement will occur tomorrow, June 26.

On a local level, the city estimates that there are 50 miles within Hastings which are in need of some degree of debris removal. Of those 50 miles, 25 are categorized as needing “very heavy” debris removal, 13 miles are classified as needing “moderate” removal, and 12 as “light” (four to five homes on a block) removal needed. To date, two miles have been cleared. However, with continuing homeowner attention to fallen trees, additional debris is added to the boulevard daily.

All Public Works and Parks and Recreation department operations personnel have been tasked exclusively to storm cleanup activities. Additionally, other city personnel have been assisting with debris removal. Nonetheless, it is estimated that the storm cleanup will take several weeks into months. During that time, many if not all normally scheduled maintenance activities will be put on hold while crews focus on this most immediate need. Your patience as we work diligently on this is appreciated.

There are several ways residents can help the city keep the community as well maintained as possible:

• Bring storm-related brush/tree debris to the boulevard. City crews will not remove debris from private property.

• Larger debris is being removed by large equipment. Smaller piles and brush will be left behind for pick up by smaller equipment.

• Please put only storm-related tree/brush debris on the boulevard for pick up. Wooden fence panels, wooden play structures, etc. damaged as a result of the storm, will not be picked up. Additionally, some property owners have put out mattresses, etc. on the boulevard; the city will not pick up garbage dumped in the right of way. Please call Waste Management to schedule a pickup of oversized items which need to be disposed.

• If possible, please cut limbs to 8 feet or less in length.

• Don’t forget to call your homeowners insurance to inquire about what is covered with your policy, including possible sidewalk panel replacement and boulevard tree root ball removal.

• Homeowners are encouraged to haul away any storm-related yard debris to the Waste Management yard waste site. This will assist with the overall cleanup of the city and allow city crews to focus on removing the most significant sized items.

Waste Management's yard waste site (2800 Millard Ave) has expanded its extended hours to accept any size tree trunks, branches, wood chips, etc.:

Hours are Monday and Tuesday, June 25 and 26, noon to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, June 27, noon to 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, June 28 and 29, noon to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, June 30, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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