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Board defends removal of hollow beech tree after resident outcry in Ward 6
Summary
A more than 100‑year‑old beech in Ward 6 was removed after city forester assessments documented internal hollowness and high failure risk; some residents alleged improper motives including links to a data center and mayoral retaliation, which board members said were unfounded and pointed to documented TRAC assessments and outreach.
The Michigan City Tree Board on Jan. 7 addressed community concern after removal of an old beech tree in Ward 6. Board members said the tree was examined, photographed and recorded using tree risk assessment protocols and—after inspection—was found to be hollow and a potential hazard to homes, vehicles and pedestrians.
Phil, the city forester, described field inspection and documentation including photographs and TRAC (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) forms. "You could stand on the base of that tree and look through it," he said, describing the visible cavity and a crack…
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