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Athens-Clarke County forestry coordinator outlines home tree inspections and safety tips
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Summary
Matteo Fennell, Athens-Clarke County Community Forestry Coordinator, described the county's home-visit tree risk assessments, advised keeping branches 10'to 15 feet from roofs, and urged homeowners to watch for southern pine beetle.
Matteo Fennell, Community Forestry Coordinator for Athens-Clarke County, described the county's home-visit tree risk assessments and advised homeowners on clearing branches from roofs and monitoring for pests.
Fennell said the county offers on-site consultations that typically include a walk of a homeowner's property, photographs and a follow-up phone call. "When someone calls me, I always ask them, what are you doing during the day?" he said, adding that if a homeowner cannot be present he will "show up and walk the property, take pictures, and then give you a call." He said visits usually last about 45 minutes: "I've got about 45 minutes where we can walk and talk."
The coordinator emphasized common safety practices and early warning signs. "Usually I tell people 10 or 15 feet of clearance is a really good window," Fennell said, referring to the recommended distance between tree branches and roofs. He noted that branches contacting a roof can move in wind and "wear away the granules of the asphalt shingles." Fennell also said he observed branches in contact with a roof during his visit and recommended they "should be reduced back."
Fennell warned homeowners to watch pine trees for pests. "A few pine trees here on the property that I think, we should watch this summer to make sure they're not being infested with southern pine beetle," he said. He described tree risk assessments as a way to prioritize work: "I always ask someone to make a priority list. You know, what are the biggest worries for you? We'll go to those immediately, and then we can work our way through some of the other issues."
Fennell said the Athens-Clarke County website hosts pages about the county's community tree ordinance and includes his contact information. "On the ACC website, I've got a number of pages devoted to our community tree ordinance, and in there is my contact information," he said. He encouraged homeowners who are worried about trees near their homes to request an arborist visit, saying it "can really pay dividends."
The presentation was informational; no formal actions or votes were recorded during the remarks.
