Recent delays in debris pickup have been due to two major factors: Hurricane Milton's additional impact on coastal counties and agreements by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and other local governments to increase payments to debris removal contractors.
This has led contractors to prioritize areas offering higher rates, leaving Alachua County and many other counties short-staffed as crews moved to more heavily affected regions.
In response, the County Commission recently authorized matching the per-cubic-yard rate paid by FDOT and nearby governments. Our debris removal contractor has committed to accelerating the cleanup process by hiring subcontractors at a higher rate, aiming to complete an initial pass by Nov. 22. However, it is important to remember that resources remain limited statewide due to the widespread impact of recent storms, and we cannot guarantee an exact completion date.
We understand the inconvenience caused by the debris and share the community’s frustration. While some residents suffered severe damage, our area was fortunate to avoid the worst impacts other counties endured, such as storm surges and hurricane-force winds.
We ask for your continued patience as we work diligently to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or msexton@alachuacounty.us.
