The city of Selma and Dallas County are still cleaning up and recovering from a severe thunderstorm Sunday evening that caused extensive tree damage in the area.

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

Henry Hicks, director of the public works department, said his crews are busy picking up tree debris caused by the storm. Residents have brought branches to the street for pickup.

However, Hicks said the city has had problems with contractors who have cut down trees but not taken the debris to the landfill.

“When a contractor comes and starts hauling the debris, they’re not allowed to take it out on the road. They have to take it to the landfill,” Hicks said. “The simple reason is they’re breaking it up and bringing in big old mounds and chunks that our trucks can’t pick up.”

Hicks said this situation is not comparable to the January 2023 tornado, where a major disaster was declared so federal funds could be used to clean up debris. Any debris removed outside of city rights-of-way is the city’s responsibility.

Hicks said they would try to remove as much as possible, but they might not be able to remove it all.

Councilman pro-tempore Clay Carmichael, Councilman Atkin Jemison and Councilwomen Christie Thomas, Lesia James and Jannie Thomas suggested that the Public Works Department do what it can and then solicit bids to remove any remaining debris that the city cannot pick up.

They acknowledged that contractors should haul away the debris, with contractors’ prices typically including a trash fee, according to Hicks, but they have had problems enforcing that city ordinance.

Hicks was also concerned about others throwing their regular trash into the storm’s debris.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we’re not allowed to take trash from the garbage pile,” Hicks said.

“But that’s exactly what’s going to happen if we don’t get it off the streets,” James said.