Hurricane Irma debris delays have officials frustrated

Depending on which municipality you talk to in Manatee County will tell a tale of varying levels of frustration when it comes to the lengthy process of removing storm debris in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

In Bradenton, it was clear Wednesday that frustrations were running high as Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she was investigating three debris removal contractors being accused of price gouging and skipping one community to go to another that promised more money.

“I’m totally frustrated with the trash that has been in people’s yards for some length of time,” said Ward 1 Councilman Gene Gallo. “I have never in my life seen trash as long as I’ve seen this trash. I have been riding three wards daily and I see the county moving stuff, but I don’t see anything moving in the city. I’m not even sure the drivers of this company know where in the hell they are at.”

As a result of continued delays, the city of Bradenton is following suit with Manatee County in resuming their yard waste collection. At this point, if any debris is bundled or bagged, it will be picked up. Bradenton Public Works Director Jim McLellan said only 7,000 cubic yards of an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 cubic yards have been picked up by the contractor to date.

“They are picking up big loads first and will sweep around for the smaller piles,” McLellan said. “But we want to help expedite that and consolidate it in one area so they can come there and pick it up. We are asking for weekly information as to where they are, how much has been picked up and where are they going next.”

Amy Pilson, public affairs liaison for the Manatee County utilities department, said only 5.1 percent of an estimated 1.2 million cubic yards of storm debris have been picked up as of Wednesday. Pilson said the county would certainly like to see things moving more quickly but resources are spread thin throughout the state.

“All 67 counties have submitted for debris assistance through FEMA,” Pilson said. “We are all vying for some of the same resources. Would we want to go faster? Of course we would. We are trying very hard to determine what other things can be done that would make it easier to collect debris that would make our residents happier, but you have to balance the cost, expediency and the requirements of proper disposal produced by a storm.”

FEMA reimburses municipalities about 75-80 percent of storm debris removal expenses. That can easily run into the millions of dollars. In Bradenton alone with even lower total cubic feet of debris estimates than the county, McLellan said costs could range between $5-$10 million in landfill tipping fees alone.

Across the county, total estimates for storm debris pickup alone are expected to top $50 million.

Gallo said there has to be a different solution.

“What would happen if we really had a storm? Would it take a year?” he asked. “We need to plan ahead and need to figure out these problems so next time we don’t go through this crap.”

McLellan said the city would no longer piggy back on another municipality’s existing contract and instead, “incorporate as much into the contract as possible associated with these issues.”

McLellan said the contractor has 10 trucks in the city as of Wednesday, “with more coming.”

Pilson said the contractor is working 12 hours a day, seven days a week and is developing priority areas. Work around schools where children have to walk to school was the most recent priority and the contractor next will be moving into areas of the county deemed to have been the most affected by the storm.

“We see based on the number of resources available to us that we are progressing at a good rate,” Pilson said, while noting that the county commission is likely to weigh in on the subject at its Thursday meeting. “There might be some more options coming that is more palatable to our residents.”

The utilities department is working on a map that will show where the county has picked up debris, to be unveiled to the public next week, Pilson said. Counties like Pasco and Sarasota have already implemented similar kinds.

“There’s a potential that it can cause uncertainties” with residents, Pilson said, if the county’s map shows what area will be picked up next without explanation.

The bottom line for municipalities is that their hands have been tied through this process. Palmetto also has had issues getting its contractor into the city, but debris will start getting picked up Oct. 5. The city said it will take approximately a month to complete cleanup efforts.

Palmetto, too, will see regular yard waste debris pick up resume. Storm debris cleanup will be prioritized to those areas of the city that have the heaviest concentration of debris.

This story was originally published October 4, 2017 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Hurricane Irma debris delays have officials frustrated."