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Benton burn site for storm debris has had close to 500 loads so far |
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Friday, 12 September 2008 |
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Since the city of Benton opened a burn site following damage generated by Hurricane Gustav, 467 loads of trees and brush have been brought to the facility, Mayor Rick Holland said today.  Billy Barlow of Benton unloads limbs and other debris removed from his property at 1700 Rock Creek Drive and throws it in the city of Benton burn site at the south end of Airlane Drive. The burn site was set up for county residents following damage last week from Hurricane Gustav. Residents could see more debris if remnants from Hurricane Ike are strong enough when the storm moves inland over Arkansas.
“We want to remind people that the burn site is open at the south end of Airlane Drive and it is available to local residents who need it,” Holland said.
“We’re seeing trees down all over town,” he said. “People have started working to get them cut up and we want them to be aware they can take them to the burn site.”
Any size tree may be taken to the facility, the mayor said, calling the site “good news for city residents.
“Every spring and fall we do a citywide cleanup where people put their trimmings on the side of the road and our crews come by and ground them up,” Holland said.”
For those trees, there is a limit of 4 inches in diameter because that’s all the city can handle.
“There is no limit on this,” he said. “This is an opportunity for people to bring any amount.
“We leave the gate open, so people can go in and drop their debris down by the burn pile. We’ll pick it up the morning and put it on the pile.”
With the forecast grim because of Hurricane Ike, which is predicted to touch down this weekend, the city again is making preparations for possible problems, Holland said.
“We know that it’s coming this way and they’re predicting heavy rains Sunday, so I would urge everyone who lives in the low-lying areas to get prepared for that, especially people who lives on River Street, in Hidden Creek Mobile Home Park on Henry Street and on Misty Circle.
“Our city crews will be standing by watching the weather, ready to go if trees are downed on power lines,” he said.
“We’ll be ready to cut those and get them up,” he said. “Of course our police and fire department personnel will be watching low-lying areas in case we’re forced to evacuate some of those houses again.
“We’ll be ready to help however we can,” Holland added.
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