SILVERHILL, Alabama — The first phase of debris cleanup in Silverhill following Hurricane Sally is nearing completion and the entire project should be completed over the next few weeks, officials said during the town’s regular council meeting on Monday, Oct. 19.
Officials with Greenco, the company contracted for emergency debris cleanup in Silverhill, were present at the meeting to answer questions, along with town officials, estimating that 35,000 cubic yards of debris had already been picked up in town, compared to a total of 75,000 cubic yards picked up after Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The current figure does not include Alabama 104, County Road 55, East, West, South and North boulevards, which were the town’s responsibility following Ivan but are now considered Baldwin County’s jurisdiction.
“If you get any complaints as to why those areas are not being picked up, they need to be referred to the county,” said Mayor Jared Lyles.
Debris cleanup is being done in three phases, Lyles said, with the completion of the first phase expected by Wednesday, Oct. 21. Phase 2 of the project was expected to be completed by Oct. 28 with Phase 3 completed by Nov. 9.
Debris collection is being monitored for reimbursement by FEMA based on the amount of debris collected.
Lyles said a schedule sheet for debris cleanup is being posted at various locations around town and would also be sent out with residents’ utility bills.
In other business Oct. 19, council members were presented with a lease-purchase agreement to purchase a tanker truck for the town’s fire department.
According to the agreement, the town plans to purchase the truck from Government Capital Corporation out of Texas at a total cost of $288,983.75 in five annual installments of $57,796.75.
While the purchase is being made through fire department funds, as an entity of the town, the purchase must be made through the town.
Originally, a straight loan agreement was drawn up with the town, but concerns were expressed that if for some reason the full purchase price was demanded under the terms of the contract, it would exceed the town’s debt ceiling limit.
Under the lease-purchase agreement, if the town decided it was unable to make the annual payment, then the vehicle would simply revert back to its original owner without demand of additional payment.
Attorney Josh Myrick, who represents the town in legal matters, said there are a few small changes that need to be made to the agreement, which should be ready for approval by the town’s Nov. 2 meeting.
Council members also voted unanimously at the Oct. 19 meeting to approve the purchase of two LUCAS devices for the fire department.
Fire chief Josh Rice said the devices, which are designed to perform CPR, could be used in tight situations allowing personnel to be freed up to perform other tasks.
Rice estimated the cost of the devices at $15,000 each and said plans are to submit an application for reimbursement through the CARES Act, adding that a device that was supposed to be refurbished was purchased in February for $10,000, but the device was not what the seller claimed it to be and plans were to return the device for reimbursement of cost.
In other business Oct. 19 the council:
