By Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2004
The Hernando County Commission has contracted with the Pensacola firm Roads Inc. to remove vegetative debris resulting from Frances from all county-owned right-of-ways, as well as roadways within private communities.
Meanwhile, Brooksville city officials plan to follow regular garbage pickup routes for debris removal.
Debris removal for county residents began Wednesday and crews will be working 12 hours a day, seven days a week until the job is finished. Although Roads Inc. is the contractor, trucks belonging to subcontractors will also be picking up debris, said county community relations coordinator Brenda Frazier. Fifteen to 20 trucks have been certified to complete the removal. Roads Inc. is being paid based on how much debris is collected and disposed.
County residents are urged to move debris from their yards to the roadsides as soon as possible, so as not to miss the collection. Storm debris must be kept separate from household trash.
Meanwhile, the Brooksville public works department has been concentrating on pulling piles of debris away from drainage ditches in streets prone to flooding, city officials said.
In a memo to City Council members Tuesday, city manager Richard Anderson said municipal employees were making progress, even though new piles of debris have appeared on streets that were already cleaned.
On Wednesday, all garbage trucks and both boom trucks were being used in the operation. City officials will review the plan of following regular garbage pickup routes and make adjustments as needed, Anderson said in the memo.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to reimburse counties and municipalities 75 percent of the cost of picking up debris from public roads and incinerating that debris.
