Contractor: Debris removal to take 4-6 more weeks|[10/05/05]
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 5, 2005
There has been less storm debris to pick up in Vicksburg than initially predicted, said Dudley Maynord, co-owner of Maynord Landscaping, reporting progress by his firm, hired by city officials to remove felled trees and limbs hauled to roadsides.
“It’s really been disappointing,” Maynord said. “The city estimated 6,000 tons and I’ll be lucky if I haul off 2,500.”
However, North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said the process is not going as swiftly as he would like.
“We’re taking a lot of heat over this,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield said he’s received many calls from residents about the debris that remains along many streets. However, he said he thinks the company is working as fast and efficiently as possible.
“Some areas are more heavily damaged than others, so some areas can move quicker than others,” Mayfield said.
Maynord was hired to clean up after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on its proposal to charge $33.90 per ton.
Vicksburg has a residential garbage and trash contract with Waste Management Inc., but that deal has an escape clause for catastrophes.
Katrina hit Aug. 29 and Maynord said his crews have been working since Sept. 23 when two crews started. He said the company added two more crews with three workers per crew on Sept. 26. Maynord said he predicts it will take the company four to six weeks to complete the work.
Warren County crews picked up debris in outlying neighborhoods and established a rubbish site, since closed, where residents could haul their own if they chose. Some city and county residents have also paid private firms for cleanup.
Before hiring Maynord, the city tried to verify the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s requirements for such contracts, in order to be eligible to apply for reimbursement. Warren County officials also expect to be reimbursed for added storm-related expenses.
City crews did remove some debris, and cleared debris that was clogging ditches or blocking streets until a company was hired to do the debris pick up.
“All the big stuff has already been picked up as far as stuff that weighed anything,” Maynord said.