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Council hears concerns about street-tree work; staff cites DNR inventory and budget limits
Summary
A council member urged adding a visibly dying tree on Swisher Butte Drive to the current tree-contract work to avoid a costly return trip; staff said the DNR prioritization and limited budgets guide removals and that critical/dead trees receive priority.
A council member raised concerns that the final tree-planting/removal plan deviated from the original map, leaving a nearly dead tree with broken limbs over a street. He asked whether crews could add that tree to the current job while they are in town rather than having them return later and charge an additional $1,000.
The engineer and staff explained that the Iowa DNR maintains an ash‑tree inventory and had conducted its own evaluation of the town; the city has been prioritizing 'critical' and 'immediate' removals and generally avoids cutting living trees because of budget constraints. Staff said adding isolated work now could cost considerably more if it required a special trip; councilors discussed folding the tree into next year’s contract to reduce incremental cost.
