Misc. News -- April 15, 2008 -- Collinsville, OK -- www.cvilleok.com

When Will Ice Storm Brush
Be Picked Up?
(sharing an email sequence the past 2 days. -- Ted 4/15/2008) The basic question is still unanswered ... but does provide more information.

Ted, We let bids on the park cleanup and also included the rights-of-way. We open bids today.

We knew that cleaning the debris up ourselves would take longer, but the commission and administration decided to do this to cut down on operating costs. The ice storm has devastated our budget. So we are trying to hold costs down by doing most of the work ourselves. We realize that we are under the gun to get the rest of it out of here and are trying hard to get it done along with everything else we must be done daily also.

Pam Polk
City Manager, City of Collinsville, OK (4/15/2008 9:30am)

Pam/Stan,
I ran a similar question a week or so ago online and stated that I was unaware of a specific plan presented to the public by the city. Before I run this one (below) I would like to offer an opportunity for the city to answer directly. I understand it is a complex and expensive problem but think the public would appreciate any info available as to when their yards (& the park) might become less hazardous. -- Ted Wright (4/15/2008 12:30am)

Ted,
I know that I have asked you before, but I was hoping that maybe you have heard something since my last asking. But have you heard anything about the city cleaning up the debris from the ice storm? I mean all of the surrounding communities are pretty much finished with their clean up and ours is still sitting along side the road on Main, Broadway and other streets. It is sitting in front of houses and with the weather going to start being pretty before to long those brush piles will make really nice homes for snakes and other critters. Not to mention the fact that they can be dangerous, just yesterday one of my kids was playing outside and accidentally fell into one of the brush piles really hurting himself. Good thing he didn’t poke his eye out or something like that. Most people, like me, don’t have any means of hauling this stuff off and/or just flat out don’t have the money to pay to have it hauled off. I know the first time volunteers were asked for there was a good turn out, but we can’t always depend on other people to clean up and come every time when it is the City that said it would be taken care of. Another reason I am asking is because I was told by someone else that the City has no intention of cleaning up the debris.
Thanks, (name withheld by Ted) (4/14/2008 noon)

Hello Ted -
I don't live in Collinsville any longer ( and I say that with a heavy heart) but I still have family there - I was coming into town yesterday and was amazed that the city still hasn't finished cleaning up all the limbs that people have gathered and placed at the street. This really makes Collinsville look so ugly & depressing. I know there was major damage and town folk helped clean up but the city needs to finish cleaning it up - I am sure you all are going to have some pest problems if you don't already. Do you have any idea when the city plans to finish/start the clean-up for the residents?

Sincerely -
(name withheld by Ted) (4/15/2008 9am)

Previous Coverage:

March 1 Volunteers

January 12 Volunteers

Dec. 9 Ice Storm

The other concern I have (not raised above) is the brush in the creek beds and drainage ditches posing potential flooding problems. -- Ted