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Lewistown revises tree-assistance policy, adds trimming, $500 copay and $100 replanting voucher
Summary
The City of Lewistown commission approved revisions to its tree-assistance policy to allow trimming as well as removal, set a $500 per-tree co-pay, and offer a $100 gift certificate to encourage replanting; staff and commissioners flagged disposal, contractor capacity and insurance questions.
The City of Lewistown Commission on a unanimous vote approved changes to the city’s tree-assistance policy to expand eligible work beyond hazardous removal to include trimming and pruning and to modify cost-sharing with property owners.
The revisions, presented by City Manager Holly Phelps, change the program so funds can be used for “tree removal, stump grinding, providing traffic control to a contractor, including barricades, and disposal of the tree,” and add trimming when a tree or limb is hazardous. The commission set a proposed co-pay of $500 per tree and authorized a $100 gift certificate to incentivize planting a replacement on the owner’s property. The commission voted to approve the updated policy after a motion by Commissioner Day and a second by Commissioner Terry.
Phelps said the revised policy also includes a spending threshold: any single-tree job exceeding $10,000 would return to the commission for approval. The draft raises the city co-pay from a previously cited $200 level to $500 to better match contractor costs, Phelps said. Commissioner questions during debate focused on how the city would handle disposal if a homeowner removes a tree and on contractor availability.
Commissioners and staff noted practical constraints. Phelps said disposal and labor still carry costs for the city if crews are used, and that disposal can require repeated work such as pile burning in winter. She also said the city requires contractors to carry appropriate bonding and insurance; when city employees perform work, the city’s insurance applies. Commissioners mentioned an existing backlog of requests and that demand often outstrips available contractor time and funding.
The policy text approved by the commission specifies program eligibility, the $500 co-pay, the $100 certificate for purchasing an approved replacement tree on the same property, and the $10,000 per-tree cap requiring commission review. Phelps said the city maintains a list of site-appropriate trees recommended by the urban forester and local nurseries.
The measure passed on a roll call with Commissioners Day, Hewitt, Rooks, Robertson, Spica and Terry voting aye.
The commission did not set an implementation date in the meeting; staff will finalize program materials and begin intake under the new rules in the coming weeks.
