In a year with multiple winter storms, the number of piles of wood and debris on Kansas City front yards has reached a staggering figure.
City manager Troy Schulte estimates the number of brush piles at 35,000 to 40,000. Residents are keeping the non-emergency 311 lines busy. Some city employees are doing double duty.
"The same folks that are picking up tree limbs also have responsibility for snow removal, so the weather hasn't helped us," Schulte said. "We've got about 9,000 requests for limb pickup throughout the city."
If the weather improves, the hope is to have the brush piles cleared by the end of March, Schulte said.
The city has three collection sites for leaf and brush. The sites are at 11660 N. Main St., 1815 N. Chouteau Trafficway and 10301 Raytown Road. The sites were scheduled to close January 19, but are still open because of the unusual number of winter storms. There is a fee for Monday through Friday drop-off, but no charge for KCMO residents on Saturdays.