By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“We are working like crazy. They have moved a lot of trees.”

Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood said Tuesday morning city crews expect to finish picking up curbside tree limbs and sawed up trees on the east side of Vine Street–Zone 1–and hope to move into Zone 2 later today. Zone 2 is on the west side of Vine in the north part of Hays.

“They moved about 45 dump truck loads of trees out on Friday to the Ellis County Transfer Station,” Wood said, “another 60 Monday and we’ll continue to work until we get it done.”

He anticipates that will be at least through this week and likely into next week. “It’s a process.”

“Downtown is the worse (hit) part of town and we haven’t gotten to that part yet.”

“Just about any employee who can be spared” along with Hays parks and public works crews are working to pick up the aftermath of the July 13 early morning storm that downed trees, limbs and did some building damage. No injuries were reported. The National Weather Service reported 82 mph wind gusts recorded at the Hays Regional Airport just before the weather equipment was damaged by debris.

“We’re taking care of our essential functions and then everybody else is out moving trees,” Wood said.

Typically, the landfill tree pile is burned off, according to Wood, and he expects county employees to do the same with the additional big pile once it’s all moved into the right spot.

Hays employees helped direct traffic in and out of the landfill Friday and Monday.

“We were the ones bringing in all the trees,” Wood said with a smile.  “It’s been a very good working relationship with the (county) guys out at the landfill.”