First pass to be completed by week’s end
Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan has announced that city residents can expect the first pass of debris pickup to be completed by the end of the week, bringing some much anticipated relief for the massive amount of damage left in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. The second and final pass of debris collection will begin on Monday, Sept. 24.
The mayor is reminding citizens that all debris should be placed curbside and sorted into three different piles: vegetative debris (tree limbs); construction debris (sheetrock and carpeting); and white goods/household hazardous waste (appliances.) Debris may be collected only from rights-of-way, which are public property. The rights-of-way are generally the space between the utility poles or utility services and the roadway.
“We understand that Hurricane Isaac caused tremendous problems for our citizens, and we’re certainly not trying to make things more difficult,” said Mayor Drennan. “Debris must be sorted because different types are processed at different facilities, so they must be collected separately–some facilities will accept only vegetative debris, some will accept sheetrock and carpeting. We’re working to ensure we follow FEMA’s regulations so that we can request reimbursement for these services.”
Drennan says if the procedures aren’t followed and the city’s request for FEMA reimbursement is disqualified, this will put additional strain on an already tapped city budget.
“The last thing we need right now is to have to reallocate funding that’s dedicated to other city projects, such as street and drainage repairs, to pay for the debris pickup,” said Mayor Drennan.“This is why it’s so important for our citizens to work with us to ensure we meet those guidelines. We’re working hard to maximize our services and conserve our taxpayers’ dollars.”
Public Operations Director Mike Noto has stated that citizens who have not yet placed their debris curbside should do so by the end of the upcoming weekend.
“As with the first pass, the pickup runs will begin on the north side of town and work toward the south end,” said Noto. “We anticipate the second pass will be completed within five to seven days.”
For more information about city services and events, please visit the city’s website at www.slidell.la.us. For the latest city news updates and information about upcoming events, follow the “City of Slidell” on Facebook and Twitter.
