Minutes - Public Works Committee - 01/21/2003

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Councilmember Elvig inquired if the reason Mr. Bateman did not want to cut the trees was for privacy. Mr. Bateman replied yes, as well as a windbreak. Councilmember Elvig inquired as to how tall the trees are. Mr. Bateman replied 25 feet high. Councilmember Elvig inquired if Mr. Bateman had tried using 1/8-inch cable line to hold up the branches. Mr. Bateman replied that he had not but would be in favor of doing so. Street Supervisor Reimer stated that if they continue to allow Mr. Bateman to tie up the branches and the branches don't hold and then an accident happens at the comer, the City will be liable. Mayor Gamec noted that the City is cun'ently involved in a lawsuit for a similar situation. Councilmember Kurak stated that trimming the trees would probably make them look better. Councilmember Cook explained that what happens when branches are tied back the branches are girdled, which will cause them to die anyway. He stated that it is not a long term solution to tie up the branches. Mr. Bateman stated that he thought that the cable would work better than the twine he had been using. Councilmember Kurak replied that she would hate for them to lose a whole tree because they tie the branches up rather than trimming them. Councilmember Cook noted that the recommended time for tying up a tree is two years otherwise it begins to stress the tree. Councilmember Kurak stated that it would be better to cut the trees, appearance wise, rather than tying them back. Councilmember Pearson inquired as to how high up they would have to trim the trees. Street Supervisor Reimer replied 10 feet. Councilmember Pearson inquired as to how many trees would be impacted. Mr. Bateman replied 14 trees. Public Works Committee/January 21, 2003 Page 3 of 11