There may be a delay for LaGrange residents needing tree limb and debris pickup for the next several weeks.

One of the two city trucks used for limb and debris pickup is out of service temporarily, due to engine trouble. It is expected to be fixed within the next four weeks, according to city staff. 

The trucks used for limb and debris pickup typically have a 15 to 20-year lifespan, according to Public Services Director Dion Senn. The truck that broke down last week was purchased five to six years ago.

“We have one that is a ’97 [model], so if we get 20 years out of one, it is pretty good,” Senn said. “That is pretty typical. This one just had the engine go out in it for some reason.”

While the truck is being fixed, residents may experience a delay in service. 

However, City of LaGrange crews plan to work extra hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The crews will be using alternative equipment including a backhoe and city dump trucks to assist, and they are asking that residents ensure limbs and debris is close to the road to ease the process.

“The biggest thing is now we are having to work some of it with a backhoe and other pieces of equipment to fill in. If [citizens] can just pile it close to the road, [that will help a lot],” Senn said. “The boon truck allows us to reach over in their yards a good way, but some of the other equipment we have is not able to get that [debris further away from the road], so if they can just put it next to the cub that will really help us out.”

The city is reminding residents that there is a four-cubic yard size limit on limb and debris pickup. The above average amount of small limbs has contributed to how fast crews can pickup debris in the last few weeks, according to Senn.

“We are still getting these little afternoon thundershowers coming through, and I think that is the increase in stuff that is putting us behind — all that extra debris from the little storms,” Senn said. “Sometimes it passes through one side of town and not the other, but the increase in small limbs with these storms is making these routes longer.”

Trash and recycling pickup will continue as normal.