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Advisory board approves removal of hazardous trees, seeks INDOT coordination
Summary
The City of Evans Ultra Advisory Board voted to remove four listed trees and a hazardous Coliseum tree after a board inspection; members also raised concerns that INDOT contractors removed trees without consultation and urged follow-up on warranty replacements.
The City of Evans Ultra Advisory Board on July 9 approved the removal of four trees listed in the minutes and an additional tree near the Coliseum after members described structural defects and pest damage.
Speaker 2, a board member, moved “So I will move to approve the 4 trees on the minutes plus the fifth tree at the Colosseum.” Speaker 1, acting as meeting chair, seconded the motion and the board voiced approval.
The Coliseum tree drew particular attention after Speaker 2 reported his inspection: “There are major wounds at the base on all 4 sides of the tree. There’s no root flare to the tree. As I was looking up into the tree, I noticed borer exit holes,” and he said, in his professional opinion, the tree “is a hazard and needs to be removed.” The board accepted that assessment and approved removal as part of the motion.
Members also pressed for better coordination with the state highway agency on larger projects. Speaker 4 said the board has previously been bypassed: “they removed a bunch of trees and didn’t come see us,” and several members said that experience supports continued outreach to INDOT on the US 41 project and other plantings. Speaker 3 said he would contact INDOT to seek confirmation on warranty replacements and expects to have more information at the next meeting.
The board discussed warranty timing on recently planted trees along Walnut Street and elsewhere. Speaker 4 warned that some trees were planted in a previous fall phase and that if the board misses the one-year warranty deadline with contractors, replacements could be jeopardized; Speaker 3 said he will follow up and attempt to secure contractor acknowledgement.
Separately, Speaker 1 raised a safety issue on Walnut Street’s bike trail where low branches could endanger cyclists; Speaker 3 confirmed that the item is on the board’s agenda for future action.
The advisory board did not attach a formal enforcement mechanism to its request to INDOT; members sought information and coordination and tasked staff and board members to follow up. The meeting adjourned after the board completed its business.
