Public Works Director Ken Rearden told county commissioners at a work session Monday afternoon that county crews still have to clear the rights-of-way for about 1,300 county roads and streets.
"We estimate there was about 30,000 cubic yards [of debris] out there on the roads when we started," said Rearden. "Most of the 2,556 roads...with approximately 2,220 shoulder miles...we have about 1,388 of those 2,556 roads cleared."
Rearden said county crews worked during the weather events on February 16, 23 and 25, but the bulk of the clean-up began a week ago on March 2. He said county crews, as well as some 50 work release inmates, worked 10 hours a day for six days last week on clearing debris.
A large portion of the debris is being hauled to a burn pit at Old Murrayville Park, which was approved by EPD for expanded operations on March 4, according to Rearden.
He also said limbs are being ground into mulch and left on some rights of way for county residents to use. If residents want to know where to find those mulch piles, they can contact the public works department.
As far as how much the clean-up has cost, Rearden said there hasn't been much time to calculate.
"We're just so focused on cleaning up the rights-of-way, and we're doing it in house, so we don't really have an estimate," said Rearden.
Rearden said despite the predicted rain the rest of the week, he's hoping county crews can make a big dent in clearing the remaining rights-of-way by the end of the week.
A burn pit has been set up at Old Murrayville Park to get rid of storm debris. (Photo courtesy of Hall County Government)
County crews have been grinding limbs into mulch.
Hall County Public Works Director Ken Rearden updates commissioners at a Monday work session on storm debris clean-up.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/3/286091