Alley cleanup ‘moving into heavy stuff’

Steve Schmidtberger, Hays water plant operator, climbs into the truck loaded with discarded lumber and wood products.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Slow-going. We’re into the heavy stuff now.” Hays Public Works Department equipment operator Dusty Degenhardt worked Thursday morning in quadrant 3 of the city, near 32nd and Canal Boulevard. His crew of three is repeatedly filling a city flatbed truck during the fourth day of the annual alley cleanup.

“We’re done with the curbside collection in this area, finished it Wednesday,” Degenhardt said.

Using a blue tractor with a grappling fork, the men loaded discarded lumber and other wood pieces on the truck. Steve Schmidtberger, a water plant employee, tied it down for the drive to the Ellis County Transfer Station north of town where it will be disposed.