Ice Storm Clean-Up Delays Other Projects

The impact of the ice storm will be felt for quite some time.  Communities across Green Country are faced with the high cost of paying for clean-up.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports some of the costs will be reimbursed by FEMA and the state, but cities with small budgets are still being put in a big bind.

When the ice storm hit, Collinsville took a one-two punch.  Not only is there extensive damage to trees, but the city owned electric utility also took a direct hit.

"We have the whole gamut.  We have electrical, getting everyone's electric hooked back up.  To debris removal, street repair, all of it," said Collinsville City Manager Pamela Polk.

FEMA will reimburse 75% of storm related costs.  The state also covers 12.5%, but that still leaves Collinsville with hefty, unreimbursed and unexpected expenses.

"We can't afford even the 12.5% to let a contractor do it," said Polk.

Collinsville's part of the bill will be an estimated $428,000.  That's a huge chunk considering the city's annual budget is just $1.8 million.

"At one point, all 2,800 were without power.  We do have everybody back up now, but now is the assessment for poles that were damaged that didn't come all the way down.  We're still going to have to go back and do a lot of work," said Polk.

To save money, city crews, rather than an outside contractor, are doing the debris clean-up work.  City crews from other communities are also helping as part of a mutual aid agreement.

Another way the city will try to lessen the financial impact of the ice storm is by enlisting the help of volunteers.  The more people involved in cleaning up all of the storm debris, the more it will save the city.

The first of several volunteer cleanup days in Collinsville is set for January 12th.

"Everything counts.  That volunteer effort is very important to Collinsville," said Polk.

The ice storm is also delaying other projects, including a $650,000 streetscaping project in downtown Collinsville.  City crews are set to do much of the work on that project, but a delay is necessary because they're now concentrating on debris clean-up.