Pueblo residents can start dropping off their broken tree limbs -- for free -- at 7 a.m. today at the parking lot for Lake Minnequa Park, just off Pueblo Boulevard.

A North Side dropoff will be opened Wednesday morning on Ridge Drive, just north of Outlook Boulevard.

Both locations will accept tree limbs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and seven days a week until May 16.

City Council made those decisions Monday night.

People will have to get their broken tree limbs to those locations, but the city will accept them without charge and turn them into wood chips.

The sites will be staffed by city employees and no loads from commercial contractors will be accepted.

"This is for residents who are cleaning up their yards," District 1 Councilman Bob Schilling emphasized.

Senior citizens or disabled people who need assistance can call NeighborWorks at 544-8078. That agency is coordinating volunteer crews to help the elderly clear their yards.

Councilman Chris Nicoll said any organization or church that wants to provide volunteers to assist in the cleanup should contact NeighborWorks.

"This is a time when neighbors should also be helping neighbors," Nicoll said.

Council President Steve Nawrocki said he'd received calls from residents who'd already moved limbs out of city roads and disposed of them. Would they be reimbursed?

City Manager Sam Azad said the city didn't want to start a reimbursement program.

Council discussed the fallen-limb problem with Azad over the weekend and city staff made the two-site proposal Monday night.

It will end on May 16.

proper@chieftain.com