Monroe County, Bloomington have stopped taking debris pickup requests

Tree branches and other debris from the storms that hit Monroe County on June 25 are still in piles at many residences, frustrating homeowners and officials with Monroe County Emergency Management (EM) alike.

Monroe County had more 1,000 requests for debris removal, according to Justin Baker, deputy director of Monroe County EM, and that's all it can handle.

Emergency management has shut down the request form and is running behind its publicized schedule. As of July 17, the county's contractor was still working in Perry Township.

Baker said anyone who has made a request should sit tight. Debris should be placed along the property line either on the curbside or near the edge, not in roadways, ditches or on sidewalks.

What about pickup of debris in the city?

Bloomington also has closed its pickup request form because of the high volume of addresses and duplicate address submissions, according to Desiree DeMolina, communications director. She said people who already submitted a report and have not had the debris picked up are in the queue and will have their debris picked up.

"Our crews are implementing a neighborhood-based approach," DeMolina said in an email. "Crews are focusing on manageable debris piles that have been placed roadside for efficient removal." The crews are not cutting up trees on private property.

The public drop-off site at Lower Cascades Park remains open because of the high demand. People can drop off debris 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3601 N. Old Ind. 37.

Reach Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com.