Public works trying to clear city’s roadways

Public works employees are working throughout the city today trying to clear roadways as much as possible as the temperatures remain below freezing.

Work on city streets began Wednesday afternoon, according to Forrest City Public Works Director Darin Flenoy.

"When the fog began rolling in, I didn't want to take any chances with freezing fog, so we began putting down our liquid de-icer," said Flenoy. "We have a certain route that we take that starts with the main streets in the city, which I call the main veins, to try and get those taken care of first. We tried to get it kicked off as soon as we could."

Flenoy said workers are continuing to focus on intersections and city streets.

He also said the city’s current garbage collection remains on schedule for this week, but there will be changes next week due to the Presidents’ Day holiday on Monday.

Flenoy said the garbage collection schedule would be running one day behind schedule next week.

The garbage collection situation for county residents is a

bit different, as county crews are not able to collect garbage on routes because of the road conditions.

"We are at a standstill, to be honest," said Gracey. "The county roads do not dry out like the main roads do. When the weather permits us to drive these trucks down these county roads, we will be back at it. It is definitely a playit-by-ear issue."

Gracey said that even the transfer station cannot be used due to the icy conditions.

"We currently have to carry a load of solid waste from our transfer station to the landfill at least once or twice a day,” said Gracey. "The regular garbage trucks dump directly into the transfer station. The machine holds roughly two and a half truckloads. With this weather though, the ramp is too slick to even get the trucks up it. We are stopped for the time being."

Gracey said no garbage will be collected until road conditions improve.