County Clean-up: Local entities arrange debris removal services

Officials throughout the county have executed or made plans to contract debris removal services.

Dunklin County has contracted Daniel Tree Service Inc. (DTS) to remove debris from the entire county excluding the cities of Kennett, Arbyrd, Campbell, and Holcomb.

These cities have contracted their own debris removal services, according to County Commissioner Don Collins.

A crew from DTS, contracted by Dunklin County for debris removal, made its way to the South end of the county on Friday to continue the clean up. Staff photos by Joshua Payne

DTS Inc. began working on the debris removal Friday, beginning with one crew on the North end and one crew on the South end.

"If everything goes well, the crews will really be rolling over the weekend," Collins said.

Mike Helpingstein, of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot), said that the state department would be sharing the work with contracted groups. MoDot will be in charge of removing all debris located on state highways and state highway right of ways, according to Helpingstein.

The department began removing the debris approximately two weeks ago, and is currently reviewing contractors to haul the debris unable to be chipped or burned.

MoDot has began the clean up process with major highways and then will proceed to safety issues, and other routes in the district.

"We are currently on schedule to complete the debris removal and clean up by our goal of April 1," Helpingstein said.

Crews, contracted by officials, have started or will soon start removing debris from right of ways on streets. In some areas the debris is piled over six feet high.

The city of Arbyrd has not contracted a group for the debris removal. Currently the city is planning on removing the debris using their own resources. The time frame of the debris removal is being discussed by the city officials, according to City Clerk Erma Branum.

Bamaco Inc., contracted for debris removal by the city of Kennett, will hopefully begin work by Tuesday, according to Mayor Roger Wheeler, Sr. The estimated start day and estimated finish date will depend on the information discussed at the FEMA meeting on Monday, Wheeler added.