July 2 storm: Bemidji will be paid for woodchips

BEMIDJI - The hauling of woodchips created from storm debris is not expected to cost the city any money.

Craig Gray, city engineer/public works director, reported Friday that a contractor will pay the city a nominal fee - $100 a truckload - to haul the woodchips from the Rako Street site, once they are complete.

Anything leftover will be hauled trucked away by the chipping contractor at no additional cost.

Dukek Logging of Bagley has been contracted to do the actual chipping, which is expected to begin Monday.

"We hope to have the majority of the site cleaned up within the next couple of weeks," Gray wrote in the weekly city newsletter. "We had anticipated having to pay for the chip removal, so finding a useable market that could take the chips in a timeline manner was a real coup."

The last day for residents to bring logs or branches to the Rako Street site is today. The site is open to city residents, with proof of residency, noon to 4 p.m.