Piles of tree limbs stand ready for mulching machines behind Medisend College.

Update Thursday: The city of Dallas must upgrade dust control practices before crews may resume mulching storm debris at 12000 Greenville Avenue, Judge Gena Slaughter ruled Wednesday. She issued a temporary restraining order to halt grinding operations from the May 28 storm, and set an injunction hearing for July 22 to consider the city’s progress.

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Update at 3:19 p.m.: Judge Gena Slaughter today granted a temporary restraining order to stop Dallas sanitation crews from grinding tree branches 12000 Greenville Avenue. 

A Dallas County judge is expected to rule today in a lawsuit against the city of Dallas, and the decision could hamper cleanup efforts after the May 28 storm. A Lake Highlands educational facility which provides hands-on training to veterans says airborne particles from Dallas’ temporary storage and mulching site have clogged their air conditioning units and forced them to shut down.

Medisend College of Biomedical Engineering Technology operates a school for veterans at 9244 Markville near Greenville Avenue and Forest Lane. They are seeking a temporary restraining order to stop city crews from dumping and grinding tree branches from the storm, and they want up to $50,000 in reimbursement for constant repair and possible replacement of their A/C units.

Students travel from across the country to attend classes at Medisend, and they live nearby while attending in-person classes, according to the lawsuit. Without working air conditioning, classes must be cancelled and revenue of up to $500,000 lost. Extreme heat also threatens to damage medical devices and equipment worth another $500,000. The school’s accreditation could also be at risk, according to the suit.

Medisend backs up to 12000 Greenville Avenue, the city’s 12-acre vacant site currently being used to handle storm debris. Sanitation crews have been tasked with clearing 400,000 cubic yards of debris, and vegetation is being mulched there and at various temporary sites, then transported to the McCommas Bluff Landfill.

When the mulching is through, 12000 Greenville Avenue is set to house the Dallas Water Utilities Neighborhood Drainage Services and Wastewater Collection divisions. Design work is complete, and construction was expected to begin later this year. Six pickleball courts will also be built on the land.

An endless stream of trucks deliver storm debris to the Dallas Water Utilities site at 12000 Greenville Ave.

Medisend College

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  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.