Town discussing trees

Trees.

That’s what dominated talk among town council members last Wednesday night.

First, it was a move by the town’s public works department to call for bids on someone to clear branches that have grown too close to power lines.

Public works director Barry Peacock said the town does this every four years.

It prompted town councilmember Bob Poch to say, “The two places people plant trees is over sewer lines or under power lines.”

The limb trimming advertisement for bids will go out soon.

Then Mayor Gregory Wilder asked the council for authority to make a change to the town ordinance in regard to the “tree board.” The so-called tree board is established by a natural and historical resources ordinance and consists of six members.

Wilder said it apparently was too difficult to get six people to be active about trees and wanted to cut it down to fewer members. He said that the committee hasn’t been active in recent years. Two people in the audience volunteered to serve on it.

Then Councilmember Gayle Swagerty said she would like to see the town become active again in the “Tree City USA” program. Coulee Dam was declared a “Tree City” during the four-year stretch, 2002-2005.

She explained that there wasn’t much the town had to do to qualify, and that it wouldn’t be a budget issue. She stated that she would like to see the town promote Arbor Day on April 9, and suggested planting little leaf linden trees.

Poch said he had one that someone could have. It was pointed out that the bees loved the trees, but someone explained that they liked the top of the trees so they wouldn’t be a problem. Many communities plant these trees because they grow fast.

The council discussed the health and life of trees on town right-of-ways, with more discussion to come.