Commissioners ask staff to return options on hiring an arborist after debate over on‑call services

Augusta-Richmond County commissioners asked county staff to return to the next committee cycle with options for hiring or otherwise providing professional arborist services after several commissioners described ongoing concerns about tree removals and replacements.

Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice told the committee she has repeatedly requested a professional arborist to guide decisions about which trees are removed and what is replanted. “We can't continue to cut trees down throughout Augusta,” Rice said, urging the county to identify funding and staffing options.

Engineering Director Dr. Malik (reported in the meeting as “Doctor Malik”) said the department includes arborists and landscape architects as part of project teams and also uses on‑call consultants for subject‑matter expertise. He told commissioners the on‑call arborist is not a city employee and is engaged on an as‑needed basis. “In my opinion, we already have enough subject matter expert available on an as‑needed basis so we can use them as the need arises,” Malik said, adding that roadway projects often require broader landscape design work rather than full‑time arborist oversight.

Commissioners pressed for clarity about whether the on‑call experts are certified and available for routine operations such as post‑hurricane assessments and street‑tree replacements. Malik said the city’s process includes qualification reviews when firms are selected and that some contractors performed post‑hurricane assessments to mark trees for removal.

Committee members agreed to direct the administrator to explore funding options and return recommendations at the next committee cycle. Administrator Allen said funding could come from contingency or be incorporated into administrative services or public‑works maintenance budgets and that staff would present multiple options.

The motion to defer and return with options passed without objection. The commissioners did not approve hiring a full‑time, in‑house arborist at the meeting; rather, staff were asked to develop costed approaches that could include adding a position, using contingency funds, or formalizing on‑call contracts and report back within the next committee cycle.