Wayland apparentl
y is moving quickly to restore its claim of taking trees seriously.
City Manager Tim cLean announced Monday night that the city has won a $2,500 grant from Consumers Energy to restore trees lost in the two most recent road projects and the planting will be done on East Sycamore Street and Hanlon Court. The city has agreed to pay $1,300 to finishing picking up the tab.
McLean said arborist Mike Connor indicated replacement of 38 trees will cost a total of $3,800.
“Big kudos to (DPW) Superintendent Cole Lutz (for his quick action on getting the grant), McLean said. “We’re very excited to receive this grant.”
The moves were made almost immediately after citizen Gail Hollinger told the City Council about her disatisfaction with removal of trees in the East Sycamore Street project. Hollinger also expressed dismay over removal of a tree at the park that had been planted in memory of a member of the Garden Club.
Lutz apologized to Hollinger, indicating that the tree had been removed in error by the subcontractor in the recent park improvement project, which included new playground equipment and the splash pad. He said there may be plans to plant a new one.
Essentially, Hollinger, who lives on Maple Street near the City Park, was voicing opposition to any practice of removing trees, which she said do the environment a lot of good and enhance the beauty of a small town.
Pointing to the city’s logo on the wall at the back of council chambers, Hollinger said, “That might as well be a stump… Why do we just throw away trees?”
The council since has voted unanimously to reinstate the Tree Board in an attempt to promote saving and planting more trees in the city. The board will be made up of Connor, a local citizen at large, a council member and Lutz. McLean said he would like to sit in as an ex-officio, or non-voting, capacity.
The citizen at large has not been chosen as yet, but Councilman Rick Mathis said Hollinger would be a quality member of such a group.
