CLEANUP EFFORTS CONTINUE AFTER JULY 3 STORM
INSET: Samuel Donian Wetland Nature Preserve, located near Main Street and Lake Shore Drive, has been closed because of downed trees and branches. ABOVE: Several downed branches and tree stumps cover a sidewalk on Wells Street.
Downed trees and branches have been reported in several Lake Geneva parks as a result of a storm that hit the area July 3.
Cleanup efforts continue as the area recovers from the July 3 storm that caused severe damage and resulted in three drowning deaths.
During the July 13 Lake Geneva City Council meeting, City Administrator Dave De Angelis said that the city will maintain the emergency declaration status, which allows public works crew members to work extended hours as they continue to remove brush and other debris from properties and city streets.
De Angelis said the first round of brush pick-up could be completed next week. Residents are asked to place downed branches or debris parallel to the street in the right of way of their front yards.
The emergency declaration also allows city crews to block roads "so, they can just drive their trucks up, block the roads off and clean them up," De Angelis said.
Residents also may take debris to the city's brush drop-off site, 1065 Carey St., from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday.
Storm cleanup work also has begun at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Debris in the parks
Downed branches and trees have been reported in several city parks, which could take several weeks to clear.
Samuel Donian Wetland Nature Preserve, located near Main Street and Lake Shore Drive, has been closed to the public.
"We have it taped off. Nobody should be in there, but we all know how that works," De Angelis said. "We were out clearing branches and there was a group of people sitting on their blankets not 30 feet away, and that's when we asked the police to come and help clear the park."
De Angelis said that because crews have been busy clearing storm debris, they have not been able to work on other projects such as grass mowing.
"There's a lot of that stuff that we're going to have to jump back at and start going to right after we finish the first round of brush collection," De Angelis said.
Volunteers needed
Residents also can contact the Disaster Response Team if they are in need of assistance or are interested in volunteering.
"As this goes on, people are going to start to realize that they don't have either the physical wherewithal or the monetary wherewithal to be able to do some of this work," De Angelis said. "So if you hear of that, please get them in touch with the folks from DRT."
Disaster Response Team members also are accepting monetary donations, and donations of equipment such as ropes, rakes, brooms, trash bags, bug spray, tools, wheelbarrows, work gloves, safety gear and sunscreen.
For more information, call 262308-1105 or email response@widrt.org.
Mayor Todd Krause said it could take several weeks before the storm damage is completely cleared.
"We just ask for your patience," he said. "We're looking at probably another three to four weeks to get the city back to normal."
For updated information about the storm, visit www.cityoflakegeneva.gov.
