ALPENA – The storm brush cleanup is progressing well, but slowly. It normally takes one day to complete regular brush in a designated area. This same area is taking 4-5 days to complete.

Due to this volume and the time that it requires, the City will hold the first regular brush collection for the year in June. A future news release will indicate the exact date Please be patient as we continue to collect. Further, once we finish an area, please refrain from putting any additional brush out. It will not be collected until the regular pick up in June, which means it would be subject to enforcement rules.

The City is not accepting brush drop off, however, Alpena County does have a location, please refer to their Facebook post updated April 29 or call 989.354.9500. They are accepting ice storm debris through May 24.

If citizens who received sandbags would like to bring them back to the DPW Service Center, there will be an area provided for drop off.

Beginning on May 4, 2026 the hours for obtaining compost will be changed to 7am-11am. Staff will not be available to load or process payments after 11 a.m. each weekday.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but this change will free up staff time to complete other City services.

Chips from the 2025 ice storm are now available at no charge. Please keep in mind that these chips were not treated or screened in any way. It is possible that a diseased tree may have been chipped, and also other vegetation may have been contained within which could result in weed

growth.

DPW staff will be available to load wood chips from 7am to 11am.

When available, crews continue to clear park areas during the week and weekends, please be patient, we are progressing as fast as we can