Council plans to remove more Ash trees in city

     During the Open Forum at the July 17 Monticello City Council meeting, Taz Kammiller, owner of Kammiller Tree Service LLC, asked the council what their plan was in terms of taking down the remaining Ash trees on city property.

   Kammiller was hired by the city to take down the Ash trees along N. Cedar Street/Highway 38 earlier this summer.

   Public Works Director Nick Kahler said many Ash trees still remain.

   Mayor Dave Goedken said the work Kammiller did already has been met with positive comments on the process and clean-up.

   “We need to get this decision on the agenda and keep moving forward on it,” urged Goedken. “We need to get bids on the rest (of the trees).”

   Council member Tom Yeoman due to the anticipated overall cost of the remaining trees, the city would need to seek competitive bids; they can’t just hire Kammiller without going out to bid.

   “Kammiller had a super competitive bid,” said Goedken. “His work was efficient, neat, and clean.”

   Kahler said he had $40,000 in his budget designated toward tree removal.

   “Some of that has already been used,” he told the council.

   After selling a tractor back to Scherrman’s Implement, there is now around $100,000 for trees.

   “That’s not going to be enough to cover it all, but it’ll definitely give us a good start,” he added.

   Kahler said he can spend the time going around town marking the worst of the trees, those that need to come down first.

   “This would keep us moving forward,” he said.

   Council member Scott Brighton said he’d like a list and location of the trees that Kahler is proposing to address.

   Kahler said following the work Kammiller has already done chipping the trees, the city’s tree dump site is plenty full.