Memo - Projected Slump Removal Costs
Ray Vogtman
.rom: Ray Vogtman
ent: Friday, August 27, 2004 7:09 AM
To: Steve Stadler
Subject: Projected stump removal costs
Diseased tree numbers through August 27th are as follows:
1) Public diseased trees marked; 143. Public diseased trees removed; 60. 42% removed_
2) Private diseased trees marked; 257_ Private diseased trees removed; 150_ 58% removed.
It is obvious that City crews will be busy into the late fall removing and picking up diseased trees. I see two problems
that have surfaced as a result of the catastrophic elm losses the City is experiencing this summer_ The most pressing
and possibly the greatest for potential litigation is the removal of boulevard stumps_ All forestry efforts are geared to
remove trees, with any stump removal postponed_ We do not have adequate staffing levels to dedicate additional
employees to stump removal efforts. It is possible that large boulevard stumps will remain well into the winter snow
season_ Although most residents are sympathetic to our tree removal program, some are becoming impatient with large
unsightly and potentially dangerous stumps on the boulevard_ The stumps do pose a hazard to tripping, etc. I would
like to recommend that the City authorize staff to proceed with a contract for boulevard stump grinding and removal.
Prices for this work are pretty uniform and it would be an easy contract to administer. We should be able to get stumps
ground out and grindings hauled for about $2_50/stump inch. We will have about 4,800 inches overall, resulting in a
contract of about $12,000_ City employees can backfill and reseed the locations. This money is not in the current 2004
Forestry budget Therefore I will need some approval to move ahead with this request
The second concern that has arisen is the reforestation program. Requests for new trees are going to far exceed funds
available for replanting. $5,000 remains in the forestry budget for fall reforestation_ This will be enough money for about
25 trees_ I could easily use funding to replace lost elms and honor new requests for trees for another 100. This could
project out to another $22,000_ If the City would like to make a statement about the losses this disease is making on our
.ommunity, this is the one to make; "We will not have our community devastated by this disease, additional funding is
eing made available to help with the reforestation efforts_" Any additional funding would be very much appreciated and
looked upon favorably by all of the residents I have been communicating with.
Please edit as necessary for a council update and let me know ASAP if I can move ahead on these issues.
Ray Vogtman
Supt.; Parks & Forestry
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