Moraine council approves $35,000 emergency appropriation to remove hazardous trees

Moraine City Council on May 8 unanimously approved Ordinance 2186-25, an emergency supplemental appropriation of $35,000 to pay for removal and maintenance of trees identified as hazardous during inspection by the city’s insurance company.

The ordinance covers expenses for the 2025 fiscal year (Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025) and was declared an emergency so the work can proceed immediately. Law Director introduced the ordinance and said the expense was not covered by the insurance company and therefore is the city’s responsibility.

Council first voted to add the ordinance to the agenda as an emergency after the Law Director requested it be placed on the docket. A council member then moved to suspend the rules to allow second reading and passage at the same meeting; that motion and the final approval passed on roll-call votes with all present members voting yes.

Roll calls recorded affirmative votes from Councilmembers Miller, Doherty, Marcus, Allen, Witt (listed as Missus Witt in the minutes) and Mayor Murphy on the motions to add and subsequently to approve the emergency appropriation. Councilmember Buschette was excused from the meeting.

The finance director had provided the staff report the Law Director referenced; the council record notes the work is required to prevent further damage but does not specify contractors or work schedule. The ordinance was approved as emergency legislation, allowing the city to contract for the tree work without waiting for a later meeting.

Because the meeting record describes the cost as not covered by insurance, the city will fund the $35,000 from the current-year appropriations authorized by the ordinance. The council did not identify specific contractors or timelines in the meeting record.