New ... The clean-up is just beginning

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PRINCETON — Streets throughout Princeton remain lined with piles of branches following Monday’s wind storm that downed an estimated 200 trees in the city.

Princeton Mayor Keith Cain said Monday’s storm came out of the northwest corner and headed southeast, but damage was basically spread throughout the entire city. Among the harder hit areas was Oakland Cemetery, which has been closed for clean-up.

On Tuesday, City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said the clean-up work could take two to four weeks.

Residents are asked to take their branches and cut-up trees to their front curbs or back alleys, whichever is more convenient. City crews will continue working the city to pick up the debris. The city is looking into hiring a private crew to take a wood chipper down the streets and chip the wood on site, Fiegenschuh said.

At Monday’s meeting of the Princeton City Council, Mayor Keith Cain said Princeton will try to get some federal disaster funds to help with clean-up costs. After talking with state Rep. Don Moffitt, Cain said he’s not encouraged there will be state funds available.

Cain asked residents to be careful in their clean-up work, especially when using chain saws. So far, there have been no reports of injuries from the clean-up effort and he wants to keep it that way, Cain said.

Residents are asked to make sure their piles of yard waste are kept clear of the street gutters in case of another storm, Cain said. City crews will clear the smaller branches first and come back later for the larger pieces, he said.

On Tuesday, Cain said he will not lift the burn ban to get rid of the fallen branches and trees. The vast majority of the trees and branches are green and would not burn, just smolder. Princeton would be a smoke city if the burn ban was lifted, Cain said.

The mayor commended the city crews and departments working in the clean-up effort. Assisting are electric crews from Rock Falls and Peru. The city’s tree-trimming service company is also in town and has sent in extra help, Cain said.

Concerning electrical service, Cain said he expected 99 percent of the city’s electric customers to have service by this evening, Tuesday. Some customers had meters damaged by the storm and the city does not do that repair work. Some cable and phone lines are also still down. Cain urged residents to stay away from all downed lines.

For any electrical power problems, Fiegenschuh said residents should call the city electric plant at (815) 875-1231.