Tag Archives: debris

Kentwood, Wyoming have open sites for storm yard waste debris

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The brute force winds that came through West Michigan now has many residents looking for places to discard the yard waste. Fortunately, for those living in cities of Kenwood and Wyoming, they have options.

A past pile of leafs at the City of Kentwood Department of Public Works as the city’s leaf and brush drop-off programs returns this week to help with debris from the recent wind storm. (City of Kentwood)

City of Kentwood

Today, the City of Kentwood reopened its leaf and brush drop-off sites, which will be open through Dec. 18. The purpose is to help residents dispose of fallen leaves and tree debris.

“We’re reopening our drop-off sites to help residents clean up after Saturday’s windstorm as well as accommodate the late leaf drop this year,” Public Works Director Chad Griffin said. “With the warm temperatures expected this week, this is a great opportunity for residents to take care of the leaves, trees and branches that have fallen on their properties.”

Residents may drop off brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs, loose leaves and loose grass clippings through Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. The drop-off sites are open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

The service is available to Kentwood residents only. Staff will be on-site checking for proof of residency and appropriate materials. Materials that cannot be accepted include paper and plastic bags, trash, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, glass and metal.

Residents may report downed tree limbs and other debris obstructing city streets to the Department of Public Works at 616-554-0817 or 911. Non-emergency street or sidewalk concerns can be reported online at kentwood.us/psr/index.php. 

City of Wyoming

The City of Wyoming operates a year round leaf and yard waste disposal site at 2600 Burlingame Ave. SW.

Winter hours for the site are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday. The site is closed on Sunday.

Yard waste should be sorted in leaves and grass piles and brush piles which may include sticks, branches less than eight-fee long, bushes, and stumps less than three-feet in diameter.

The site does not accept leaf bags , plastic bags, sod, rocks, stones, sand, treated wood, fencing, shingles, concrete, asphalt, furniture, carpet, glass, garbage or basically anything that is not naturally grown in a yard.

There is an attendant at the site with residents having to show proof of residency.

Power outages can be reported to Consumers Energy online or by phone at 800-477-5050. In the case of an emergency, such as a downed power line, call 911.

Wyoming works to clean up after Saturday’s tornado

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It’s the Monday after and residents and city officials of Wyoming continue to assess the damages left after Saturday’s tornado passed through the city.

 

The National Weather Service teams are currently surveying the damage caused and have confirmed tornado-related damage in Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa and Kent counties. In its preliminary review, the National Weather Service has the tornado in Wyoming listed as an EF-0 which is weakest rating with winds between 65 to 85 mph. The tornados in Van Buren, Allegan and Ottawa were listed as EF-1 with winds 86 to 110 mph in the preliminary findings. The 2014 tornado that hit Wyoming was classified as an EF-1.

 

There were no related deaths or injuries from the storm just trees up rooted hitting homes and blocking roads along with a lot of debris.

 

“The teams at City Hall have been working through the weekend, answering residents’ questions, connecting them with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.,” said Mary Ann Sabo with Sabo PR, the city’s public relations firm.

 

In fact, shortly after the storm, Mayor Jack Poll, in a video on the city’s Facebook page, was talking to residents and mentioned he was among the city officials going door-to-door in affected neighborhoods checking on residents. Other city staff was out clearing debris, inspecting structures and responding to medical emergencies.

 

In a statement released today, Poll said “Our Public Safety teams have done a tremendous job handling first response calls, and we so appreciate the support from Kent County and neighboring jurisdictions. Public Works, Inspections, Parks & Recreation, along with our Administrative team, have done an incredible job meeting the needs of our residents. Storm cleanup is well underway, with neighbors helping neighbors.”

 

Wyoming received helped from several departments from Byron Township, Caledonia, Cutlerville, Dutton, Kentwood, Georgetown, and Grandville.

 

Because of commitments to help clean up, Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce President Bob O’Callaghan said they have lost a few volunteers for this weekend’s Metro Cruise, but the event is expected to take place Friday, Aug. 26, and Saturday, Aug. 27 as scheduled.

 

“The city has a crisis response plan that was immediately put into play,” Sabo said. “The process is to focus on immediate needs first, then turn attention to areas like parks.”

 

Due to damage and safety concerns, five of the city parks are close until further notice. Those parks are Pinery, Lemery, Prairie, Ferrand and Buck Creek. The Parks & Recreation team is contacting those with park reservations to see if events can be relocated or rescheduled. Reservations canceled by the storm will be refunded unless the reservation was relocated to another park or facility. For reservation questions, call 530-3164.

 

As of today, Consumers Energy has restored power to all but a few homes in Wyoming. Working with the American Red Cross, a resource center has been set up at Gladiolia Elementary School, 3500 Gladiola Ave. SW today through 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents may coordinate tree removal help and other issues at the center. The Red Cross will have disaster kits available as well.

 

Debris removal is probably the biggest item facing residents with the city’s yard waste center at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW, being opened 24 hours a day through Saturday, Aug. 27. The city received kudos on its Facebook page for this with Kathy Walcott posting “Can’t say enough good things about [City of Wyoming]. Friends were amazed we dropped off over eight trailer loads of debris without paying! Thanks for stepping it up when it was needed.”

 

The yard waste center will be closed Sunday, Sept. 4 through noon Thursday, Sept. 15. Public Works crews are working on picking up debris. If you need the crew to come through your street or to make arrangements for a drop off at the yard waste center after Aug. 27, contact the Public Works Department at 530-7260. City officials are asking that all storm debris be placed behind the sidewalk and not in the public right-of-way.

 

Also the City of Wyoming is waiving the fees for building or electrical permits for storm-related repairs. Residents still must secure a permit before making those repairs.

 

Wyoming residents who need assistance that is not related to debris removal or have other storm-related questions may call call 530-7226 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Have storm debris? Self-serve yard waste facility is open Sunday, Aug. 21 from 9 am-6 pm

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Hard News, Our Cities, , , ,

@hvillewxman Blake Harms
Scene at Wilson & 68th in Grandville shortly after the tornado. Photo courtesy of Blake Harms @hvillewxman

By Victoria Mullen

WKTV

 

If you have branches, limbs and brush to dispose of after Saturday’s storm, you may bring them to Grand Rapids’s yard waste facility at 2001 Butterworth Street SW from 9 am to 6 pm on Sunday, Aug. 21. The facility is self-serve, so you’ll have to bring the storm debris yourself.

 

At least four radar-reported tornadoes downed trees, damaged homes and snapped power lines on Saturday, August 20. Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming sustained most of the damage, and at least 25,000 Consumers Energy customers lost power in Allegan, Barry, Kent and Ottawa counties since the storm.

 

NWSBecause the tornados were wrapped in rain, they were not visible to viewers. There were no reported injuries.

 

The National Weather Service said that damage surveys will be conducted on Sunday to determine the number, wind estimate and severity of the tornadoes.