Board Wants to Standardize Fairhope's Tree Removal Policy

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TREE COMMITTEE MEETS                                                      

At its last meeting, the tree committee discussed how to deal with requests for the removal of protected trees. The issue was spurred by requests from the American Legion and Art Center for pine tree removals.

After members Bolton and Kingrea said they thought there should be a written policy with a detailed procedure  to be followed, member Kent Schwarz and JoAnne Hogan suggested using the ISA's (International Society of Arborists) Tree Hazard Evaluation Form for that purpose.

Once the city's horticulturists made a determination (using the form), all appeals (to private-sector arborists) are to be financed by the applicants.

A motion was made to adopt the new procedure and it passed unanimously.

(Publisher's Note: Some Board Members concede privately this measure is needed to remove political influences from the process.)