CITY CONTINUES CLEANUP FROM MAY 17 STORM

Two weeks after a wind storm knocked down trees and limbs, Cape Girardeau City crews continue to work overtime to clean up the mess.

At least another two weeks will be needed to finish the job, said Tim Gramling, assistant director of public works.

Tons of debris is being cleared from city streets following the May 17 storm.

"It's a balancing act," Gramling said. "And it's a dynamic situation. Each day the situation changes."

Tuesday morning part of Perryville Road was closed to give street crews a chance to load debris.

"We got a large portion of that street cleared," Gramling said.

Over the next few days, other streets will be closed for a time to load debris.

The city hired a contractor with a large limb-loading machine and several dump trucks.

Nearly all the city's other public works crews are on clean-up duty as well. Crews are working overtime for the third straight week.

The only street department crew working it's regular duty is a signing and striping crew. The mowing crews took a couple days last week to mow essential areas, then returned to storm clean up.

When solid waste crews finish their normal trash rounds are returning to the streets to pick up smaller piles of debris that can be loaded by hand.

And yet, "there are some areas we haven't even gotten to yet," Gramling said. "We are hoping at the end of the week to be able to determine when this might end."

Gramling said the clean up operation is working in zones and trying to do east-west street first and then north-south streets. But the clean-up plan is subject to change as the need warrants.

The city's tree and limb debris holding area will remain open through Saturday in an effort to help clear the streets.

City residents may drop off all storm-damaged limbs or brush and other yard debris at the holding area from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at no charge. The holding area is on Third Street, just off La Cruz across from Kasten's Masonry. Reach the center off South Sprigg.

At the end of the week, city officials will determine if the holding area will continue to accept debris.