The Cleaning Lady: First official volunteer helping New Albany clear the streets

Related Photos

Discussion

September 18, 2008

By DANIEL SUDDEATH The News and Tribune Thu Sep 18, 2008, 10:52 AM EDT

Marlana Robles traded in a ruler and a compass for work gloves and a chain saw Tuesday.

When Robles found out her school in Louisville wouldn’t be having classes this week, the New Albany resident made the transition from math teacher to street cleaner without batting an eye.

“If we’re not going to be in school, then we should be out helping,” Robles said.

Mayor Doug England swore-in Robles as the first volunteer the city had in aiding the Street Department with removing debris following Sunday’s destructive winds.

“She’s been helping our men and doing an excellent job,” England said, encouraging others to help clean the city, which is still littered with fallen tree limbs and branches.

Robles worked for several hours with street department employee Richard Wells, as they removed debris and used a chain saw to saw branches from along Ekin Avenue.

“She has served her country before and she’s doing it again,” Wells said of Robles, who was an active U.S. Marine for 22 years.

Robles said every high school student should dedicate two hours of time to help remove debris, since most are out of class for the week.

“They would be surprised how much their effort really makes a difference,” she said. “I feel like this is what we’re supposed to do.”

Mickey Thompson, commissioner of the street department, said they could use more volunteers like Robles. They assigned her to a crew after she was legally approved, as the type of work requires the volunteer to accept the risks.

“I think it’s great, it speaks to the character of the person,” Thompson said. “We can use all the help we can get.”

Robles began helping neighbors clean up their property near her residence on McLean Avenue before volunteering to help the street department. Though the city has hired two private companies to help with removing debris, England predicts it will take at least three weeks to get all the waste off the streets.

The city also is trying to keep yard waste out of landfills by sending it to be used for mulch and other renewable outlets.

While all yard waste eventually will be hauled off via curbside pickup, residents can take their own limbs and branches to a temporary dump site at the old Farmers Market location, at the corner of Scribner and Oak streets.

Only yard waste will be accepted at the dump site.