The denial of state disaster funds did not come as a surprise to local government officials, but that didn’t lessen their frustration.
‘I think the state, as well as the county, don’t send back the amount of money we need compared to what we send them,? said Independence Township Supervisor Dale Stuart in response to the news that Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan State Police denied a request by several local communities for assistance after the early April ice storm.
Clarkston’s original estimate to Oakland County officials was $10,000 for storm cleanup.
‘If anything, it’s low,? City Manager Art Pappas said.
More than three weeks after the ice storm hit, many residents are dealing with fallen trees and branches. The Road Commission for Oakland County has already announced that it could take up to three months to clear brush from county roadways.
The city does not own a wood chipper, and has hired outside firms to help the Department of Public Works with the cleanup. Even so, Pappas cannot guarantee when ? or if ? brush will be collected from streetside.
‘If you get tired of looking at it, try to take care of it yourself [by calling a private firm],? Pappas said. ‘That’s what I’m planning to do.?
Stuart could not give a firm estimate of township cleanup costs, but it will take between $30,000 and $50,000 just to deal with brush brought in to the township DPW complex.
Stuart had hoped for ‘everything we could get? from the state, but recognized that any help would be limited.
‘There’s no way they could give us enough to cover our costs,? he said.
Al Doran, an Independence Township firefighter who operates his own excavating business, helped supervise the use of a tub grinder at the Flemings Lake Road DPW complex. He is in the process of purchasing the $140,000 machine for his business.
While there is certainly a market for wood chips and mulch, it’s not necessarily a money-maker.
‘There is a market for it,? Doran said, ‘but there’s more than usual.?
Indeed, RCOC is offering free wood chips at four commission garages, including the one at 10275 Dixie Highway in Springfield Township.
How will local governments pay the bill for the cleanup?
‘It’s a big crunch,? Pappas said. ‘We’ve had budget cuts from the state [already]. We’ll have to juggle things around.?
‘There are things we had planned to do that we’re not going to be able to do,? Stuart said.
One possibility is to eliminate a planned second household hazardous waste collection day this fall. A typical such event costs between $30,000 and $40,000.
‘We just can’t do everything,? Stuart said.
Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls laughed when asked if his government hoped to get state disaster funds.
‘Yes, we applied for assistance, but no, we weren’t hopeful to get it,? Walls said. ‘Having been through this type of thing before, [the denial] wasn’t a surprise.?
Since Springfield Township depends on the road commission for road cleanup, and since Springfield has no DPW, the actual impact on the township budget may be minimal. Officials will rent a chipper for the annual spring cleanup day Saturday, May 17, so there will be added costs.
‘We typically don’t do brush,? Walls said.