News Summary

Monroe is continuing to rack up costs for the cleanup efforts caused by the winds of Hurricane Ike, which blew through Butler County on Sept. 14.

Thus far, the city has incurred $72,000 in costs associated with the windstorm, which includes removal of debris and cleanup, labor, fuel and rental cost for equipment used in the effort, said Brad Collins, Monroe public works director.

The first week after the storm, the city incurred more than $12,000 in expenses for employee wages, a chipper and lift rentals and fuel, he said. Public work crews worked more than 450 hours, including 334 regular hours and 116 overtime during the first week.

Collins said about 20 percent to 25 percent of the cleanup effort is complete, but there is still a lot of debris and tree limbs to pick up in the Butler and Warren communities.

"We have a storm cleanup schedule, which we have on our Web site," he said.

"What the city was busy doing the first week was cleaning up those roadsides, getting the roads opened back up, cutting and cleaning the debris in the park and cutting and cleaning debris at the cemeteries."

Last week was the city's first full week of residential cleanup in its subdivisions for debris pickup. "It's slow, but steady," he said.

City Manager William Brock said the city didn't see much damage to pubic property.

"What we did see was fence damage at the rear of the municipal building as well as one decorative pole being knocked down," he said.

Brock said the city's public works buildings at the street and water department also suffered minor gutter and roof damage.

In addition, he said some tree damage occurred in the city's parks and cemeteries as well as to some low wires at the park.

Collins said the city is still waiting to receive some quotes on repairing the decorative pole.

He said the city also is discussing the gutter and roof damage to the public works buildings with its insurance company and trying to get quotes on the needed work.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.