Village Overhauling Storm Response Policies, Leaf Collection System

Village administrators expect to finalize new plans to deal with disaster scenarios and address leaf/debris collection woes within a month or two, Village Manager Ken Gabbert said Wednesday.

The village was  during the October snowstorm, as well as an that followed. Major roads were chalked with down tree limbs while dead-end cul-de-sacs were clean as a whistle, drawing confusion and ire from residents.

"We took very seriously the we had last fall and started several and key staff in terms of what we should do with key aspects of notification and mobilization to any storm event," Gabbert said.

The Village Manager – who himself last fall when questioned about his whereabouts during the October storm – said village staff are creating brochures that thoroughly detail how the village should mobilize, react and conduct itself for any number of events. The plan differs based on the event, Gabbert said. A flood scenario's response mechanism would not mimic that of a large wind storm, he remarked.

A "multi-media" approach to disseminating information has already proven successful in trial runs, Gabbert said, stating the volume of messages may be considered too great from residents.

The new leaf policy is also receiving an overhaul, the manager said. Mayor Keith Killion, with the blessing of the council, was not shy in saying the policy was ineffective and outdated.

Encompassing leaf, branch and garbage collection, Gabbert said the new plan will incorporate "all aspects of collection that have an impact on services to the resident, the appearance of the streets and the image of Ridgewood we're trying to project so we dont get into a situation we had last fall where everyone panics and throws it into the street."

He said there will be some "cost savings" and some "cost expenses" but did not elaborate. Both plans will be presented to the council, Gabbert said.

"It's a thorough recommendation that's coming," he added.