Charles City Moves Forward with Plan to Remove Ash Trees
The Charles City City Council has approved a plan to spend about $500,000 to remove ash trees that are dying or have been killed due to the ash borer.
Some 900 trees that are either on City-owned property or in the right-of-way could eventually come down. City Engineer Brian Sullivan told the Council this week, they still might not be able to keep ahead of the problem.
Councilman Keith Starr asked if the City workers could do the tree removal themselves if the City purchased its own truck.
City Administrator Steve Diers said that was a consideration, but it may not be the safest course of action.
Councilman DeLaine Freeseman concurred with hiring an outside company.
With the ash tree removal plan approved, the City will now take bids for the project to spend about $250,00 for the 2023-24 fiscal year and another $250,00 in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The City will borrow the money to pay for the tree removal.
