City, county help with storm damage cleanup

Boulevards and backyards in Superior neighborhoods are filling with furniture, carpets and items damaged by last week’s floodwaters.

And the city has solutions to help residents and businesses already facing costly losses to take it away the debris for free.

Now through July 9, residents can drop of their damaged belongings at the municipal landfill at no cost. The city is waiving the usual tipping fee to help people out.

On Saturdays through then, the city is extending its hours to help with the cleanup. The landfill will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and July 7 to accommodate those who can’t make it to the landfill during regular hours of 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The landfill closes for the 4th of July holiday.

For city residents without the ability to get their storm-damaged goods to the landfill, the city is adding the extra step of picking up goods damaged by the storm. To arrange a pickup, call (715) 394-0244.

The city can’t take appliances; those items can be recycled at places like Balcum Appliances.

Assistant Public Works Director Todd Janigo said dealing with appliances and other electrical equipment damaged by flood can present specific problems.

The city on Tuesday posted a guide to help homeowners deal with submerged appliances.

According to Underwriters Laboratories, contaminants in floodwater can create serious fire hazards if electrical wiring and equipment have been submerged in water. Even with professional cleaning and drying, sediments and toxins are difficult to remove. Some items may be reconditioned, but others will need to be replaced, and it is recommended that an electrician or electrical inspector guide the restoration or replacement of any electrical wiring or equipment.

For more information, visit “After the Storm — Important info” at www.ci.superior.wi.us.

And when it comes to damaged electronics — banned from Wisconsin landfills since 2010 — the timing of the storm could prove advantageous. It comes just as Douglas County launches its annual Clean Sweep.

The decision to open the landfill has had a side benefit for the city; pristine places around the city have not become dumping grounds, according to Parks and Recreation Administrator Mary Morgan.

Morgan said after talking to the city’s code enforcement officer, superintendent of parks and support staff at the municipal services building, she learned there has been no evidence of illegal dumping since the storm.

“These are the three key portals for hearing about illegal dumping and none of the three of them have heard any reports of it,” Morgan said.

The same isn’t true in rural areas.

A resident on Finn Road reported Friday that she woke to find ruined Sheet Rock and carpeting — not her own — near her driveway. It happens every time there is flooding near the Nemadji River, she said.

But rural residents affected by last week’s flooding need not litter their pristine property or that of neighbors.

The free landfill also allows northern Douglas County residents and businesses outside of Superior to get rid of storm-damaged goods.

Among items frequently dumped are electronics.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, residents can recycle most damaged electronics at no cost at the Head of the Lakes fairgrounds in Superior.

Computers, monitors, game systems, digital cameras, keyboards, VCRs, DVDs, printers, LCD and television monitors and stereos can be dropped off free. Projection and console televisions can be dropped off for a $25 fee.

For more information about the 2012 Clean Sweep, call (715) 395-1293 or visit www.douglascountywi.org.

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