Niles Township will provide free tree-debris cleanup service to residents recovering from a storm that tore through the area more than two weeks ago.

Terry Eull, township clerk, said the service would be for residents in the south portion of the township from Fort Street to State Line Road (north and south) and the St. Joseph River to 21st Street (west and east).

Work is expected to begin by the end of this week or early next week and be a one-time cleanup. Residents must place the debris at the curb in order for it to be picked up.

Eull said the board decided to offer this service due to the widespread damage caused by the June 20 storm, which left thousands without power and trees down all over the township.

“Some people just don’t have the resources to spend a couple thousand dollars to clean up their yard,” he said.

Eull said the township received two bids for the work and accepted the bid of $250 per hour for a four-man crew from Kachur Tree Service, of Niles.

The board approved the work at Monday’s regular meeting.

Eull said it is possible that Kachur might do a second pass after the first one is complete.

Also Monday, the township board:

• Had a first reading of a new ordinance that would prohibit truck traffic on Bond Street from Fort Street to U.S. Highway 12. The ordinance is in response to complaints from Bond Street residents about truck traffic on their road. A petition was also circulated. The township board is expected to consider the ordinance at its next meeting.

• Discussed the possibility of selling an approximately half-acre of land the township owns at the former Eastgate Shopping Center property on Oak Street to Jerry French and a business partner. Eull said French and his business partner own approximately 50 acres at the Eastgate site and are interested in obtaining the township’s portion because a developer has expressed interested in the property. The township is expected to address the matter further at its next meeting.

• Received a complaint about the cost of building permit fees from the owner of the Dairy Queen on South 11th Street near State Line Road. Eull said the owner was charged $13,000 for a building permit fee for a planned new building project. Eull said the township would review the fee.