BRADENTON, Fla. - Since last year’s hurricanes , trees and debris continue to be removed from waterways across Manatee County .

The county wants to ensure water remains flowing and nothing contributes to any additional flooding.

It’s taken manpower and specialized machinery to get the job done.

Residents can see and hear the progress as Manatee County crews clear a canal in River Strand Estates with a piece of equipment called a Menzi Muck Machine.

"It’s got arms, it’s got legs," explained Jeff Bare, the property management contract manager for Manatee County. "Think of a walking spider in a sense. It’s got claws to be able to hold onto the bank or support itself when it’s down in the water. It’s able to do a lot of different things."

It’s helped to speed up the cleanup process

See Full Page