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August windstorm produced 3,000 cubic yards of brush; village sees surge in permits
Summary
An August windstorm led to a major brush‑removal and wood‑chipping operation; the village coordinated mutual aid for hauling and reported a spike in building permits tied to storm damage and repairs.
The village reported large‑scale cleanup and a subsequent surge in permit applications after an August 16 windstorm that uprooted private and public trees. Public works and administration said the event produced roughly 3,000 cubic yards of wood chips after municipal processing and that contractors and mutual‑aid partners from 14 jurisdictions helped haul brush to a temporary storage area at the wastewater treatment site.
Nut graf: The storm produced significant public‑and‑private property damage; Public Works temporarily stored brush at the wastewater plant and converted it to wood chips. Community Development has seen a large and continuing rise in building permit applications as homeowners seek repairs and rebuilds. Staff said the department is meeting its service goal (permits issued within 10 business days) but using overtime and consultant help to keep up amid a growing backlog.
Public Works staff (Kalin and others) worked with the Village Administrator and Police/Fire to stage brush at a wastewater treatment parcel where crews stockpiled material up to 10–12 feet high at peak. The village reported roughly 3,000 cubic yards of processed wood chips produced from the material, and staff estimated about 100 parkway trees in the village were lost or damaged enough to require replacement. Private homeowners face additional tree losses.
Director Simmons and Community Development staff described a permit surge tied to post‑storm repairs. The department issued 386 permits in September (higher than previous months) and had already issued dozens more in early October; staff told the committee the department is maintaining a practice of issuing permits within 10 business days by adding overtime and consultant support. The administrator asked for patience from residents while staff processes higher‑than‑normal volumes.
Ending: Staff will continue the cleanup and chip distribution; Community Development will track permits and report back on volumes, any needed temporary staffing or consultant adjustments, and on the schedule for replacing parkway trees.
