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The City of Selma and Dallas County are still trying to get cleaned up and recover from a severe thunderstorm Sunday night that caused widespread tree damage in the area.

The weather service said that straight line wind damage caused the damage, that knocked out power to more than 11,000 Alabama Power customers at the height of the storm.

Henry Hicks, director of public works, said his crews have been busy picking up tree rubbish that was caused by the storm. Residents have been bring tree limbs to the road for pickup,

However, Hicks said the city is having issues with contractors who have cut up trees but did not haul off the debris to the dump.

“If you have a contractor to come in and start removing debris, they’re not supposed to bring it out to the street. They’re supposed to take it to the landfill,” Hicks said. “The simple reason is they cut it and drag big old humps and chunks that our trucks are not able to pick up.”

Hicks said that this situation is not like the January 2023 tornado, where a major disaster declaration was made to allow federal funds to be used for debris removal. Any debris that is removed off city right-of-way would be up to the city.

Hicks said they will try to remove what they can, but they may not be able to do it all.

Council Pro Tempore Clay Carmichael, Councilman Atkin Jemison and Councilwomen Christie Thomas, Lesia James and Jannie Thomas suggested that public works do what they can and then solicit bids on the removal of the remaining debris the city cannot pick up.

They acknowledged that contractors should haul off the debris, which Hicks said contractors prices usually include a tipping fee. However, they were having issues with enforcement of that city ordinance.

Hicks was also concerned that others were dumping regular trash in with the storm debris pile.

“A lot of people don’t realize we cannot pick up garbage in the pile of trash,” Hicks said.

“But that’s what’s gonna happen if we don’t get it off the street,” James said.