The Township is partnering with the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County (RCKC) to coordinate tree debris removal from the road right-of-way as a result of the damage caused by the tornado event in early May.
Starting Monday, June 3rd, Vander Veen Excavating, a subcontractor for RCKC, will be facilitating cleanup efforts of the designated cleanup zone.
A designated Cleanup Zone has been established that includes parcels located between Q Avenue and R Avenue, from 10th Street to 12th Street, as well as parcels on Alidor and Phiant. You can view a map of parcels included in the Cleanup Zone here.
Vander Veen was selected by Kalamazoo County through a competitive bid process and will extend their pre-negotiated pricing for this cleanup effort.
Action Plan
Tree Debris Cleanup
June 3: Vander Veen will bring in equipment and laborers to remove tree debris (trees, branches, stumps) located in the road right-of-way (33’ from the centerline of the road). This service is intended for cleanup related to the tornado event.
We encourage households within this zone to move tree debris in their yards to the curb for collection. The Township will not be removing tree debris in private yards.
The cleanup will begin at 12th Street and Swallow Avenue and first concentrate in the Colony Woods neighborhood. Then crews will expand to the remaining areas of the designated zone (10th Street, R Avenue, Alidor, Phiant, and the remaining 12th Street & Q Avenue parcels).
Based on the current amount of debris, we anticipate that Vander Veen will be able to provide right-of-way cleanup for all households in the zone at least once. We expect that Round 1 cleanup will be completed by Friday, June 7.
Future rounds of right-of-way cleanup will be dependent upon available funding.
If you would like to report a missed pickup or have questions or concerns, please contact info@texastownship.org.
Tree Debris Disposal
RCKC has graciously agreed to extend the use of their gravel pit for disposal of tree and branch debris through Sunday, June 30th (extended from May 28th, 2024). Drop-off is available to residents of Colony Woods only from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Monday through Sunday). Please note this is an honor system. Household items and hazardous waste cannot be disposed of at the gravel pit; abuse of this program will result in discontinuation.
Dumpsters
The Best Way dumpsters located in Colony Woods for household solid waste will be removed on Monday, June 3. If you have any remaining items (trampolines, fencing, patio furniture, etc.) that you would like to dispose of, please place them in a dumpster before June 3. Once the dumpsters are removed, we do not anticipate another delivery.
For more information and future updates, please continue to check our resource page at www.texastownship.org/tornado-response
FAQ
When do I need to have my tree debris at the right-of-way?
Vander Veen will begin cleanup work on Monday, June 3 so please place any tree debris you have at the curb by the end of Sunday, June 2. Vander Veen will only visit each parcel once during the initial cleanup round. Only tree debris (trees, branches, stumps) will be accepted.
Will the cleanup efforts damage the roadways in Colony Woods and surrounding areas?
The equipment that Vander Veen is using has been selected to ensure an efficient and thorough cleanup service without damaging roadways.
How is this cleanup effort being funded?
The Township will be funding Round 1 of cleanup through the $100,000 of funding allocated by the Township Board on May 20, 2024.
How will the County’s allocation of funding be utilized?
Township staff continues to work with County leadership and Colony Woods neighborhood representatives on how the $130,000 of County funding will be allocated.
Will I receive any reimbursement if I privately funded right-of-way cleanup efforts at my home?
The Township continues to work with County officials, FEMA, and local agencies to understand if any financial relief will be available for households that privately funded right-of-way cleanup efforts. More information is forthcoming.