Batavia’s July 1 storm-damage disposal bill: $32,000

That storm that knocked the West suburbs for a loop July 1 has cost Batavia at least an extra $31,967.

That amount is the bill from Kramer Tree Specialists, which was hired to pick up the remains of trees, limbs and branches broken by the high winds. Kramer’s, based in West Chicago, worked for five days starting July 2.

The city council’s city services committee was to vote Tuesday night on moving money from the general fund reserves to the streets and sanitation fund because the service was not included in the 2012 budget.

Gary Holm, Batavia’s public works director, did not have figures available about how much the city spent on overtime labor in the streets and electrical department for the storm, which happened on a Sunday. The city was busy removing trees and tree debris off streets and electrical poles, as well as restoring electrical service. The area from Fabyan Parkway to Main Street, west of Route 31, was particularly hard hit. On Western Avenue, high winds snapped more than a half dozen utility poles. Electric crews were devoted to storm damage through July 9; all streets crews were assigned to clean up through July 10, except on Independence Day, Holm said.

The Kramer bill included disposal of what the city cut up.

Batavia charges most residential utility customers $36 a year for regular brush and leaf pickup, except for those who live in apartments, condominiums or townhouse buildings of six or more units.