Unhappiness about Dunkirk’s brush pickup situation was a notable topic at the most recent Common Council Department of Public Works Committee meeting.

Committee chairwoman Natalie Luczkowiak expressed frustration that the city’s spring brush roadside pickup was pushed back to May. “We can spend the time to pick it up, but where do you want us to put it?” replied DPW’s Andy Bohn.

“Do you want us to do potholes, too?” he added. DPW currently does not have enough manpower to handle potholes and brush at the same time, he said.

Bohn read part of a statement from DPW Deputy Director Mike Przybycien, who could not attend the meeting. “People need to keep their expectations reasonable, especially with no summer help and limited street crews,” Przybycien stated.

“But shouldn’t we push?” wondered Luczkowiak about the brush situation.

“What do we push?” replied Bohn.

Randy Woodbury, DPW’s director, concluded that he would rather work on potholes now, and have everyone in the city collect their brush this month for a May pickup.

Luczkowiak turned the conversation to her efforts to establish a northern Chautauqua County dropoff point for brush. The closest current point is in Ellery, more than 30 miles from the city of Dunkirk.

“A few councilpeople did meet with the county Public Facilities Committee (about a possible north county dropoff),” she said. “I think it was very positive.”

She said County Executive PJ Wendel thinks there is space at the north county trash dropoff on Webster Road for brush disposal. “They are even talking about having a chipper there, too,” she said.

Luczkowiak hopes to get other north county municipal officials together for a meeting with Wendel to hash out the details.

“I told him, no one should have to travel 36 miles to get rid of brush. He agreed,” she said of Wendel.

Woodbury noted that a system similar to the one for garbage, where locals pay to drop off brush, would help pay for the service at the Webster Road site.