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DPW outlines current urban-wood practice; ships logs to Kettle Moraine Hardwoods and seeks local partners
Summary
Department of Public Works officials said the city ships about 3,000 tons of logs a year to a processor and that about 30% of that wood is reclaimable for milling. DPW said it will pursue local processor partnerships after a February RFI drew no responses and explained operational limits and costs.
Department of Public Works staff briefed the committee on the city’s Urban Wood program and current practices for handling removed street and park trees.
Chuck Schumacher and Jeff Closlow of DPW said the department currently ships roughly 3,000 tons of logs per year to a processor in the region, Kettle Moraine Hardwoods. DPW staff told the committee about operational constraints: crew yards use roll-off boxes that must be filled quickly, the city needs processors that can accept mixed-length trunks without on-site sorting, and many logs carry nails or other metal that makes them unsuitable for high-end milling.
DPW said about 30% of the logs shipped are reclaimable (not filled with metal) and can be milled. Schumacher said the city would welcome partnerships with local processors that can meet DPW’s operational requirements, but that a February request for information (RFI) produced no local responses. The department said it is preparing to contact a local processor for possible collaboration.
Commissioners and council members asked about costs and timing. DPW staff said shipping logs to Kettle Moraine Hardwoods costs about $95,000 annually; DPW and sanitation staff said the alternative—disposal through waste-management contracts and composting facilities—would cost roughly 25% more. Staff also explained that roll-off capacity and current crew staffing require year-round handling of downed trees rather than a strictly seasonal program.
The committee requested the RFI text and asked DPW to provide more detail on potential local partnerships and a per-ton accounting of costs and revenues. DPW staff said residents interested in reclaiming fallen or removed trees should submit a service request for a forestry manager callback by calling the city service line (286). The committee placed the communication on file for further follow-up.
