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Council authorizes termination of SCDOT debris-removal agreement; DOT to assist with remaining storm debris
Summary
Greenwood City Council voted 5–2 to authorize termination of the city's agreement with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) for DOT-contracted storm debris removal. Council and staff discussed outstanding debris, FEMA deadlines, and continuing coordination with DOT to collect remaining right-of-way debris.
The Greenwood City Council voted 5–2 to authorize termination of the city's agreement with SCDOT for DOT-contracted storm debris removal, while staff said DOT will continue to assist with remaining debris collection.
City staff reviewed the background: after Hurricane Helene the city signed an agreement to allow DOT’s debris-removal contractor to collect debris on DOT roads and, at staff request, to include some city-owned streets. The DOT contractor collected extensively but later left. Staff told council they had cataloged remaining debris, have coordinated with DOT and that DOT offered follow-up assistance (one to two days per week) to collect remaining items in the public right-of-way.
Staff and council discussed complications and limits: FEMA reimbursement rules and right-of-way monitoring firms constrain what can be collected and what qualifies for federal reimbursement; debris located off the public right-of-way (for example, in private yards) cannot be collected by the city under the DOT contract; contractor monitoring firms sometimes determine certain piles do not qualify for DOT contractor pickup if outside the right-of-way. Staff said the DOT contractor was paid through FEMA, not by the city.
Councilmember discussion included concerns that debris remained in the community, questions about why the city was being asked to formally terminate the agreement, and clarification that DOT had asked for formal termination to clear contract administration before continuing assistance with remaining debris. After discussion, Miss Otto moved to authorize termination and Mister Miller seconded. The motion passed 5–2.
Staff said they will continue to work with DOT to identify remaining right-of-way debris and to coordinate collection; they noted that any debris not in the right-of-way is the responsibility of the property owner and that the city can offer to bill the property owner if the city removes it.
