Slow debris removal frustrates Holmes Beach’s residents

HOLMES BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Cynthia Balbierer is a longtime resident of Holmes Beach and wants her city to return to normal. However, she's having a tough time looking at countless memories dumped in a pile outside her home.

"I just wish they will hurry up and get going on all this stuff," Balbierer said.

She and many neighbors say these piles didn't pop up recently. It started after Hurricane Helene's storm surge damaged properties.

Concerns are also growing over the health and safety of residents.

"We were told to put everything out on the street because we were going to have pickup trucks. But what's that been? Like three weeks," Balbierer said.

Near her home, the view is the same.

But a few block over is the City of Anna Maria. It used 60 debris hauling trucks from eight private companies to clean up. The city does not have large debris piles compared to Holmes Beach. The city also plans to still be reimbursed for its efforts on haling away the piles.

Longtime Holmes Beach resident and former county leader Carol Whitmore has also noticed the difference.

"I think this is a major learning process for the government and I think what they need to do is have a debriefing to find out what went right and what went wrong," Whitmore said.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, The City of Holmes Beach said it re-started debris removal on Oct. 11. Now, leaders are working to add more trucks to speed up the process. The city has also opened a debris removal site in city limits to avoid trucks spending up to five hours traveling to and from the landfill.

Leaders said they're also working on a plan for 24-hour debris removal service.

As for Balbierer, she also wants the piles removed to avoid breaking down in tears.

"50 years in the driveway," Balbierer said. "Yeah, it is emotional."

Manatee County said rubble hauling service is up to each city to manage to but it's here to help during emergencies. Its focus is on unincorporated areas.