If you have a dying, diseased, or decaying Ash tree on your property, you may be getting a letter in the mail from the City of Burlington demanding its removal.
The City Development Department will be sending out letters this week as the fall season continues and trees begin to weaken. Trees that are already dead or present a safety concern have to be removed by December 15th. Trees that are decaying will have to be removed next year based on their condition.
“It’s a safety issue. I know there are people out there who are thinking ‘I can’t afford to have this tree removed’. It’s not a punishment deal but it has to go down for public safety,” said Mayor Shane McCampbell.
If the trees are not removed by their deadline dates, the city will hire contractors to remove the tree through the nuisance process. The property owner will then be charged for the removal, but payment plans will be available.
A list of licensed tree removal services will be sent out with notification letters.
The Emerald Ash Borer, a bug that burrows and destroys ash trees, has been detected in Des Moines county ash trees, contributing to the high amount of ash deaths.
