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Forestry Division
The Forestry Division is responsible for maintaining
all trees that are planted on the City right-of-way,
boulevards, City parks, Lakeside Cemetery, City owned
vacant lots, and open alleys. They are not allowed to go
onto private property to trim or remove trees. If there
is a question as to whether a tree is on the City
right-of-way, contact the Right-Of-Way Inspector at
810-984-9733. Likewise, the department does not advise
citizens who have problems with trees on private
property.
If a tree on private property falls onto the City
right-of-way, only that portion of the tree on City
property will be removed. It will be up to the homeowner
to remove the remainder of the tree and debris. If a
tree on private property falls onto private property
such as a neighbor's house or fence, again, it is up to
the property owner to contact someone to remove the
tree.
When a tree is trimmed by a homeowner, it is their
responsibility to remove all debris. Small branches,
less than 3" in diameter and cut to lengths under four
(4) feet, can be put into paper yard bags or approved
containers and placed with their regular trash for pick
up. The City contracts with a waste removal company that
provides pick up of yard debris April - November.
For information concerning removal of large brush and
branches, please see "Large
Brush and Branch Collection Program".
If a person has a tree that they feel should be trimmed
or removed, they are to contact the forestry department
and a work order is placed in the system indicating the
name of the caller/owner, address, telephone number and
the nature of the complaint. The Forestry Supervisor
will check the complaint and determine the work to be
done. Only trees that are dead, dying or diseased will
be removed. If the person wishes to have the wood from
the removal of a tree, they should indicate so at the
time of the call. Trunk sections of the tree will be
left as they are taken down.
STUMP REMOVAL: When trees are removed from City
Right-of-Ways, the tree is cut down to slightly above
ground level. A list of addresses with stumps to be
ground down is provided to a third party contractor. The
contractor grinds the stumps approximately 6" inches
below ground level and notifies the forestry department
once they are done. A copy of the list is given to the
Forestry supervisor and he schedules his crew to place
black dirt in the holes left from these removals. It is
up to the property owner to spread grass seed in these
areas.
TREE REMOVAL PERMIT: The City will not remove
trees because they interfere with the water or sewer
lines, lifting/damaging sidewalks or for putting
in/expanding a driveway. If a person wishes to have a
healthy tree removed for one of these reasons, they can
do so at their own expense but first have to obtain
permission to do so. A written request, indicating the
work to be performed, address and the name of the
licensed tree removal contractor would need to be sent
to the City Forestry Department. If permission is
granted, a permit is issued. There is no charge for the
permit; it merely states that the contractor is totally
responsible for any damage done to City property,
removal of all debris and must be insured.
TREE PLANTING PERMITS: If a person wishes to
plant a tree on the boulevard or City Right-of-Way, a
permit (no charge) can be issued. See Planting
regulations below for specifications. Once the resident
determines the type of tree and location, they call the
department and the forestry supervisor goes out to
inspect the location. If permission is given, the
address, number and type of trees being planted are
indicated on the permit. Information on proper tree
planting techniques is available upon request. The
planting of vegetation on City Right-of-Ways is
regulated by an ordinance, a copy of which follows:
Sec. 22 - 170 Planting regulations.
(a) No tree of any prohibited species shall be planted
in any street or park, nor shall any such tree be
planted on any private property within 50 feet of any
street or sidewalk right-of-way or any sewer or sewer
extension. Shade trees planted in any street
right-of-way shall be spaced not less than 40 feet
apart, except that trees may be planted less than 40
feet from an existing tree in the right-of-way, provided
the existing tree has been approved for removal within a
period of two years from the date of planting of the new
tree. The owner of a single lot may, in order to provide
a shade or ornamental tree in front of his lot, secure
special permission from the department to have a tree
planted closer than 40 feet from an existing tree, but
in no case shall such planting be within 30 feet of any
existing tree within the right-of-way.
(b) No tree shall be planted in any planting strip
between the street proper and the sidewalk where the
distance between the back of the curb and the sidewalk
is less than three feet in width. No tree shall be
planted nearer to the intersection of any streets than
25 feet from the corner of such intersection. (Code
1975, § 35-22; Code 1992, § 30-35)
RECOMMENDED:
Beech (American & European),
Elm hybrids only
Flowering trees: Crabapple, Dogwood, Horsechestnut,
Ohio Buckeye, Eastern
Redbud, Callery Pear, Magnolia
Maple - Crimson King, Freeman, Hedge, Norway
Cultivars, Paperbark, Red, Shantung,
Striped, Sugar, Tartarian
Oak - Burr, Pin, Red, Sawtooth, Shingle, Swamp and
White
Miscellaneous species: Birch, Hackberry,Hornbeam
(American), Ironwood, London
Planetree, Littleleaf Linden, Honey Locust, Sweetgum
(American), Tupelo
and Tuliptree
PROHIBITED:
Mountain Ash
American Elms
Evergreens, Pine and Spruce
Ash - Green, Patmore, Seedless, Summit, or White
Maple - Silver
Box Elder
Poplar
Russian-olive
Willow
SNOW REMOVAL PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS: The
Forestry crew is responsible for the removal of snow
from all City owned parking lots, park drives and
sidewalks. Overnight parking is not allowed in City
owned parking lots during the winter months as it causes
a problem when the crews try to plow these lots. Loft
residents are requested to park their vehicles so as not
to obstruct the snow plows in the winter.
BOAT RAMPS: The Forestry crew installs the boat
ramps and docks at the 12th Street and Riverside Boat
Ramps in the early spring when the fishing season
begins, normally around the first of April. Also, they
will remove the boat ramps and docks in November, or if
the season remains reasonably warm, not until December.
The boat docks at the Fort Street Dock are installed by
the first of May or as soon as the ground permits the
trucks to get into that area.
LOGS FOUND IN THE RIVER: The Forestry crew is
responsible for removing large logs that may be found in
the river by the Sheriff Department or Coast Guard.
These logs must be towed to the 12th Street Boat Ramp or
an area that is accessible by the Forestry equipment for
removal. The crew will also assist at any river cleanup
programs during the summer.
WOOD CHIPS: When the Forestry crew removes a
tree, the small branches are put through the chipper and
taken back to the Forestry area where a pile of wood
chips is stored. These wood chips are available to the
general public as long as only a reasonable amount is
requested. The individual requesting the wood chips must
stop at the Warehouse Office and get permission to
remove the wood chips and they will be shown where to
get them. The crew does not load them for the person.
These chips are not recommended for use around play
areas as they can splinter and cause injury to a child
if they happen to fall on them.
WOOD: When a tree is removed, the parts of the
tree that are too large to put through the chipper are
taken up to the Forestry area and stored in a fenced in
area. These lengths of wood are available to citizens
for use in their fireplaces, etc. Citizens are not
allowed to cut wood at the Forestry yard due to the
liability of the City. They must remove it from City
property before cutting it up. It is recommended that
anyone wishing to pick up wood, contact the office
beforehand to make sure that there is a supply of wood
available.
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