The city of Orange’s grapple truck and city personnel have picked up 40 loads of Harvey debris for 960 cubic yards, City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre told the city council Tuesday.
He said the city crews will make another pass for qualified storm debris, along with another pass for hazardous wastes. Most of the hazardous wastes picked up so far have been paint cans. He said city crews can pour sand into the cans to harden the paint and make it qualify for disposal.
Oubre once again stressed that only Harvey-related materials gutted out of house qualify for the pickup. Contractor trash from new construction does not qualify.
FEMA told city officials they could get reimbursement for storm-related debris. Oubre said the use of the grapple truck plus the time of employees has amounted to almost $19,000.
District 2 Councilor Brad Childs said he saw someone with a qualified pile of debris put a contractor put new boxes on top and it was not picked up.
Oubre said the trash needs to be separated and kept within reach of the grapple truck on the street. The truck cannot go onto private property.
The city plans one more round for qualified debris.
Oubre also told the council they have probably read about $5 billion coming to the state for Harvey recovery, but not to expect it soon. He said most of the money could go to housing and could be administered through the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission, however no plans are set. Some of the money allocated after Hurricane Ike in September 2008 has only recently been used.
The council also agreed to add 120 work days to the contract with Allco of Beaumont for construction of the new Richard Street water plant. Weather has caused delays at the construction. The addition of work days will not add to the costs.
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