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Isanti City committee moves to use contractor for 27 hazard ash trees and send $12,275 quote to council
Summary
A city committee agreed to pursue Contractor 1 for removing 27 hazard ash trees in the right-of-way, use public works for stump restoration and seed, and directed staff to bring a $12,275 contractor quote to the full council and send homeowner notices that reflect ash-borer timing constraints.
The Isanti City committee of the whole agreed to pursue a mixed approach for removing 27 ash trees identified as hazards and to bring a contractor quote of $12,275 to the full city council so work can be scheduled if homeowners do not arrange removal themselves.
The committee’s chair said Contractor 1 appeared to be the lowest-cost option for removal while public works would likely provide the cheapest stump restoration, estimating roughly $4,000 for public-works restoration versus $6,090 from the contractor. “Public works couldn’t do all of those trees,” the chair said, summarizing staff recommendations and committee direction.
Why it matters: emerald ash borer rules and disposal requirements limit when and how ash trees can be removed; that timing affects notice windows and contractor scheduling. A staff member explained that “ash trees can only be removed during certain time periods,” which complicates the usual 30-day nuisance-letter approach and may require on-site chipping and transport of material to a burning facility if removal is necessary during restricted periods.
Committee members debated whether to extend the notice from 30 to 60 days so homeowners have more time to plan. Staff warned the window between a rapid mailing and the statutory May 1 restriction could leave only a narrow contractor scheduling window in mid-April. On disposal logistics, the chair explained the practical requirement: “the outer 1 inch of bark or wood must be chipped on-site and transported to the nearest facility,” and staff confirmed the city could haul chipped material to its facility for burning.
The committee also clarified billing: staff said costs would be charged specifically to the homeowner where each tree is located rather than averaged across the list. Committee members supported the city providing an estimated contractor price in the homeowner letter while noting the estimate would not be a guaranteed final cost because contract estimates are time-limited.
Next steps: staff will mail and doorpost notices to homeowners so residents receive timely notification, include the contractor’s estimated amount as an estimate, and add disposal instructions if homeowners choose to remove trees themselves. Staff also recommended bringing Contractor 1’s $12,275 quote to this evening’s city council meeting so the contractor can be scheduled if needed. The committee agreed to proceed with an associated research study and grant work and to reconvene on remaining trees in about four to five months as the study and scheduling allow.
The meeting record shows the committee gave direction rather than taking a formal policy vote on the tree removal plan; the committee then recessed to convene city council.
