Tree Services Busy Clearing Away Ice Storm Debris

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Dec 13, 2007 at 4:45 PM CST

Story Updated: Dec 13, 2007 at 6:31 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS- The ice storm may have come and gone, but it's still a mess out there. And that's especially true in neighborhoods with lots of trees.

This time of year is normally not a busy time for tree removal and lawn care services. But a number of services told TV9 the phones have rang non stop since the ice fell on Tuesday.

One worker estimated it would take at least two weeks to clean up the ice-coated brush. Tree removal workers are cutting up the limbs that fell and pruning low-lying limbs. But more extensive work will have to wait for better weather.

Buddy Fenton, of Kimm Tree Disposal, said "with the ice being on trees it's kind of dangerous to be climbing with with spikes. So we're just cleaning up what's down on the ground and later people can call us. We'll prune them up in the spring time."

But not everyone was calling professionals to remove the icy brush or getting debris ready for curbside pick up.

Several loads of brush wound up dumped in ditches near the Indian Creek Nature Center in southwest Cedar Rapids. Nature Center director Rich Patterson said "it's just highly inconsiderate to take your own debris and dump it on somebody else. It's offensive and a big problem we'll have to deal with it."

Illegally dumping brush created by the ice storm is not necessary. Many areas with debris problems have special clean up days scheduled.

In Cedar Rapids, Forestry and Street crews will begin hauling away tree limbs from the curb on Monday. That special pick up will run until December 28th. Residents can also cut up limbs and put them in yard carts or bundle them for a yard waste pick up.

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