Residents demand urgent cleanup of neglected city streets

During a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding the maintenance of city streets, particularly on Bayshore, following a storm that left debris scattered across the area. A resident highlighted the accumulation of trash and storm debris, noting that homeowners were under the impression that the city was responsible for cleanup beyond the sidewalks, which is not the case according to city regulations.

The resident pointed out that areas such as Philippi and Main Street also appeared unkempt, with visible issues like exposed soaker hoses and graffiti on electrical boxes. They questioned whether residents would have to tolerate the unsightly conditions due to the city's easement policies.

In response, the public works director clarified that the department typically responds to storm debris within a day or two. However, after the recent storm, cleanup efforts were delayed by a week, leading to further accumulation of debris. The director noted that some residents might have inadvertently contributed to the problem by placing their debris in city right-of-way areas to avoid personal cleanup responsibilities.

The public works team plans to conduct another cleanup of South Bayshore in the coming days to address the ongoing issues. The director acknowledged that while efforts were made to clean the sidewalks, some debris remained, indicating a need for continued attention to the city's maintenance responsibilities.