Cleanup and recovery efforts continue across Urbana following last week’s severe storm, with utility crews and city staff working to clear remaining debris and reopen blocked streets.
AES Ohio crews have largely completed power restoration throughout the city, but a few streets remain blocked as utility crews work to remove limbs from power lines. City staff will continue coordinating with utility crews to help get the remaining streets reopened.
The Simon Kenton Trail remains closed between Miami Street and South Edgewood Avenue because of limbs and fallen trees. A second section south of Urbana, between state route 55 and Hickory Grove Road, is also closed due to storm debris.
Oak Dale Cemetery was also impacted by the storm, with cleanup efforts underway.
Brush pickup begins Monday
The city of Urbana Street Department will begin picking up storm-related brush Monday, August 17, with collections continuing through Friday, August 21.
Residents are encouraged to place brush curbside as soon as possible to ensure it is collected before the final pickup Friday.
Storm debris must be 4 feet or shorter, with limbs placed in one direction in a pile along the curb. Residents should not block sidewalks or gutters.
Free storm debris drop-off Sunday
The city’s compost facility at 1261 Muzzy Road will also open Sunday, August 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help residents clean up following the storm.
Storm damage debris will be accepted free of charge, including larger truck and trailer loads. Residents can bring fallen tree branches, twigs and leaves, but all debris must be free of household trash, plastic bags and building materials.
The city reminds residents that yard waste must be source-separated, meaning brush, leaves and grass clippings cannot be mixed together. Containers, plastic bags and other binding materials must also be taken with residents when they leave under the facility’s “carry-in/carry-out” policy.
Prohibited materials include trash, hazardous or infectious waste, construction and demolition materials, asbestos, batteries, food waste, liquids, animal carcasses or waste, industrial or agricultural waste and other materials that are not properly source-separated.
Customers must obtain a receipt from the on-duty attendant before using the compost/mulch facility.
The facility is normally open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The special Sunday hours are being offered specifically to assist residents with storm cleanup.
The city also reminds residents that dumping yard waste at the facility outside of operating hours without written permission is considered littering and may result in prosecution.
City officials are encouraging residents to take advantage of both the curbside brush pickup and free storm debris drop-off as Urbana continues to clean up and recover from last week’s major storm.
