Being mindful of "the claw" will help it help you

By Chester Kilgore

Be mindful of "the claw."  Sounds like a line from a Gothic horror novel. But it's not. The claw is the modern device the City of Knoxville uses in order to pick up brush and limbs left near the curb in neighborhoods. Long gone are the days of men with rakes, shovels, pitchforks tossing trimmed branches into the back of truck. With the claw, the city can do the work more efficiently, savings us all tax dollars. 

However, the claw does have one big "disadvantage," if that is the right term. It needs space in order for the large mechanical arm to reach out and down, clamp its metal "claw" around the debris, then lift it up and into a bin. Recently some debris was left too close to one of the banners on Grainger Ave. and the operator of the claw accidentally hit the pole, ripping the banner and doing damage to the pole. 

Public Service Director Bob Whetsel apologized for the damage, offered to help repair the pole and banner, and then asked for our help. He asked that we all make sure to leave at least 10 feet of space between the brush pile and the nearest object. This includes things like flower beds, retaining walls, trees, bushes, power poles, cars -- anything that might get in the way and that we don't want to lose. 

Bob emphasized that those who operate the claw are trained so that accidents don't happen, but even the best training can't completely compensate for a tight area to work in. So, be mindful of the claw when placing your limbs and brush by the curbside for the city to pick up and hall away. It is good to have this service. I don't think any of us wants it stopped. But I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say I don't think we want our personal, neighborhood, or city property damaged either, and with a little planning on our part, we can all live in harmony with "the claw."

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