Residents frustrated as city neglects fallen tree cleanup

Residents of a local neighborhood expressed frustration during a recent government meeting regarding the delayed response from Public Works following a severe storm that downed a large tree on June 24th. The tree not only disrupted power for several homes, including those of the speaker and their neighbor, but also created a significant obstruction in the street.

The speaker recounted that after the tree fell, it took three days for the situation to be addressed. Although Ashland officials arrived to remove the tree, the process was slow, with the tree not being taken down until 9 PM the same day. The speaker noted that they were asked to temporarily store some of the tree debris in their yard, with assurances that it would be picked up the following day. However, as of July 1st, no action had been taken by the city to remove the debris.

In an effort to resolve the issue themselves, the speaker and their husband, both seniors, took it upon themselves to cut up the fallen tree and stack it neatly in front of their home. They expressed concern for their elderly neighbor who was attempting to do the same with inadequate tools. The speaker criticized the lack of support from the city, emphasizing that residents should not have to repeatedly contact Public Works for assistance.

Additionally, the speaker highlighted ongoing issues with brush collection in the area, noting that piles of debris had remained uncollected for months, including a Christmas tree that had been left since December. They urged city officials to improve their response times and provide better assistance to residents dealing with storm-related debris. The meeting underscored the need for more efficient municipal services to support community members in times of need.