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Limbs collected: Approximately 400 loads, or 12,000 cubic yards* Manpower: 12 in-house employees and 3 contract drivers Time spent so far: 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, 3 weeks total Vehicles used: 7 dump trucks, 2 knuckleboom trucks, 4 pickup trucks Additional equipment used: 2 chainsaws Time needed for project completion: 4 weeks Fee to Panorama Farm: $20 per load Total cost to city: Approximately $100,000 *Numbers as of March 9 |
On March 1, Charlottesville’s Public Works Department began a free service to collect fallen tree limbs and other debris stemming from this winter’s heavy snowstorms. Limbs are hauled to Panorama Farm in Earlysville and ground into mulch, which the farm sells commercially.
The service is funded by the department’s contingency monies for emergencies and unexpected events, but a supplemental appropriation from City Council will be requested once all snow costs from all departments have been calculated, says city spokesman Ric Barrick. The projected cost to the city is approximately $100,000; no new equipment was purchased for the project, although three dump trucks and drivers were contracted by the city.
The job reached its halfway point on March 9. Check out a few numbers from the haul.