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Fort Atkinson hires Great Lakes Urban Forestry for public tree inventory and management plan, $13,040
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Summary
Superintendent Williamson told the council the city will contract with Great Lakes Urban Forestry to inventory roughly 4,400–4,500 publicly managed trees and develop an urban forestry management plan at a cost not to exceed $13,040, with budgeted funds and a small $540 overage to be covered from operations.
The Fort Atkinson City Council on Dec. 16 approved a contract with Great Lakes Urban Forestry to produce a public tree inventory and a multi‑year urban forestry management plan at a not‑to‑exceed cost of $13,040.
Superintendent Williamson said the project supports the city's comprehensive plan and the city's goal of maintaining Tree City status. The plan will inventory approximately 4,400–4,500 terrace trees and evaluate publicly owned trees across parks and other city lands (excluding heavily forested areas where a cursory review is planned), provide a prioritized maintenance and pruning schedule, and recommend species diversification to reduce risk from pests and disease.
Staff noted the operations budget included $10,000 for the project in 2025 and $2,500 in 2026; the remaining $540 will come from other operating funds. Williamson also said having a formal plan improves competitiveness for state and federal grants because reviewers award points to applicants with long‑range management plans.
Council members asked whether the inventory would support grant applications and what public lands would be included; staff confirmed parks and terrace trees would be covered and that the plan improves the city's chances when applying for DNR and other grant funds. The council voted to approve the contract and authorized the city manager to execute it.
