Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
June 13, 2007
We have received several calls why we cut down the large trees along the stretch where we are reconstructing North Lincoln between Jefferson and Monroe. They were large, lovely trees that were located in the right-of-way between the sidewalk and the street. When the reconstruction was originally designed, we thought the trees could stay. However, once we got into construction it was found that the new elevation of the road and where the curb line was set meant that the root systems were severely compromised.
Our Park Superintendent Calvin Beckmann is a certified arborist and we asked him to look at the viability of keeping the trees. He advised that they would have to be removed due to significant safety concerns. With the size of the trees and such little green space between the sidewalk and street, the trees were at risk of blowing over from high winds (possibly into the homes).
When the trees were cut down, it turned out that a couple of the trees were in bad shape and rotting internally as well. They would have needed to be removed soon anyway. The homeowners are understandably disappointed, but I think they are somewhat relieved about being spared from a safety hazard. We will offer replacement trees to the homeowners, but they will obviously be much smaller than the ones that were taken.
I am sure some tree lovers will be upset with us. We do not like to cut down large trees. We have been recognized for several years as a “Tree City USA.” Our new subdivision ordinance requires the planting of trees in new residential subdivisions. We have spent many thousands of dollars to plant new trees at the new Family Sports Park. Sometimes trees are just in the wrong place or are diseased and must be removed for the safety of the community.
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