Columbus, Georgia

Rachel Buice

02/20/2003 12:44 PM



To: Isaiah Hugley/Columbusga@Columbusga

cc:

Subject: update on tree ordinance







"Quality People Providing Quality Service"











I thought it was time I should relay to you an update on the tree ordinance.



To date we have reviewed 62 sets of plans. Several of these have begun

construction. We have established an excellent relationship with the

inspectors in Engineering. Jesse Gamble, Engineering, and Scott Jones,

Forestry Administrator, are talking several times a week about projects. We

have incorporated a tree save column in the active projects spread sheet so

that all of the Engineering inspectors know which projects have tree save

areas. All of the inspectors went through the recent "tree" training and know

what to look for. In addition, they all have Scott's number and call him if

they see something suspicious.



We have had one donation to the Tree Replacement fund because they could not

fit all of the trees on the site. It was for $440.00 and was for a storage

building development on Victory Drive. I have had a few requests for variances

before the plans even begin. In all occasions, the engineer or designer have

decided against the request because as they work through the drawing they can

easily fit the trees on the site. Otherwise, there have been no requests for

variances that I have not been able to meet.



Our first subdivision is beginning. It is with Dave Erickson off of Warm

Springs Rd. He has proposed to have large tree save areas here. He has

started his road work.



Yesterday, the tree board was sworn in. All members were present except for

Mrs. Carlton Franklin and Mr. Kenneth Henson. It was a good meeting. They

have decided to break into a subcommittee to establish their By-laws. The

chair of the subcommittee is George Stanton. The members of the subcommittee

are Gloria Battle, Gloria Weston-Smart, and Susan Kleto. The subcommittee will

meet on March 4th in the conference room of Public Services. The whole group

will meet again on March 12 at the same location during lunch. From then on

out, the established monthly meeting date will be the first Wednesday of every

month from Noon - 1:00 p.m. in the conference room of Public Services.



Many of the Tree Board members are concerned that their appointments are so

brief. Some members expire in July 2003 and December 2003 while the remaining

members go into 2004. The members that expire in July and December 2003 would

like conformation that they will able to be reappointed at the end of their

terms if they request.



I will present an overview of the tree ordinance at the next meeting with the

whole group. The same presentation that you saw in January. The members have

also requested to have a listing of developments in progress. I told them that

I would provide to them monthly the same sheets that Engineering gives out to

us that lists projects that are under construction. We will mark the ones with

Tree Preservation and Planting plans. Overall things are going well.



Rachel