Clean up from Tropical Storm Irma continues in Lula, officials still wait on damage price tag

Five weeks after the fact, some cities in North Georgia are still working to clean up the mess left behind by Tropical Storm Irma; Lula in East Hall County is one of those cities. 

 

City Manager Dennis Bergin said after Monday night's Lula City Council meeting, it has been a monumental job for city workers to clean up the 257 trees that the storm brought down on city property, and the job isn't finished yet. 

 

"We were impacted quite significantly on this end of the county," Bergin said. "The good news is is that there is an opportunity to recover some of that cost through FEMA."

 

Of particular concern right now is Rafe Banks Wellness Park where a number of trees still block walking trails. There's also a water tank that was taken out of service when a tree was uprooted by the wind and toppled onto the structure. Those issues are too large for city workers to handle, so City Council approved a contract in the amount of $10,100 for Greystone Tree Services, Inc. to do the work. 

 

"We don't have the equipment or the skill level to take those [trees] down," Bergin said. That work will begin on October 25.

 

In addition, Bergin said he's not sure how much damage - if any - might have been done to the water tank.

 

"We took that tank out of service...it's primarily for storage. Nonetheless, I'd like to better understand if that tank's affected, and we haven't been able to do that yet," Bergin said. 

 

Bergin said once the final tally on damages is determined, the city will submit the amount to federal officials, with the hope of recouping 80 to 85 percent of the cost. 

 

 

 

The Lula Fall Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Bergin said some booth space is still available, so vendors are welcome to contact the city for details.

 

The phone number at Lula City Hall is 770-869-7841.