The county has hired monitors to keep track of what areas have been addressed. Crews should be finished by Oct. 25.
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 15, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - Storm debris removal for Hernando County residents should be completed by Oct. 25 - a month after Hurricane Jeanne blew through.
The county has hired 18 monitors, and as many as five county employees are being deployed daily to follow debris collection crews to mark off streets as they are completed.
More than 95 percent of Spring Hill, Istachatta, and Royal Highlands has been cleared of debris. However, in some cases, piles of heavy debris have been left to be picked up by mechanical equipment, county officials said.
A second pass of areas west of U.S 19 began Tuesday and will continue through Saturday. Roads Inc. of Pensacola has been contracted to collect the debris.
Eastern Hernando County, including Hill 'N Dale, Rolling Acres, Ridge Manor West and Ridge Manor should be completed by Saturday, officials said.
Nobleton, Masaryktown and the Spring Lake area should be completed by Saturday. Areas north of Mondon Hill Road will be completed by Oct. 25.
County officials said there have been several instances of residents who didn't place their debris out in time and were missed. In those cases, the debris will not be collected. There will be no third collection pass, officials cautioned.
If a homeowner hired a tree service to cut down storm-damaged trees, that homeowner should have that company haul the debris to the landfill.
County officials said they have heard of homeowners who removed and trimmed bushes and trees as part of normal yard maintenance and piled the debris by the roadside for collection.
That debris is not covered by the storm cleanup effort and should be handled privately, officials say.
Next week crews under contractor Roads Inc. will collect the remaining debris with mechanical equipment and areas that were legitimately missed.
Those county residents who live in flooded areas may have to wait awhile before their storm debris is collected. Crews will visit those areas and collect as much debris as possible, officials said.
Monitors will mark their maps as to how far the crews would venture into the water. After the debris collection contract is completed, county officials will decide how to clean up flooded areas. Residents should wait until after today to contact the debris hotline at 754-4030 to report their location as a missed collection.
Residents who live in the city of Brooksville should call the city public works department at 544-5465 if their debris has not been collected.
