I'm in the process of selling a house in the city. In front of the house is/was two medium sized maple trees. 2 years ago there was a bad ice storm and while the trees made it through unscathed, the city went on a mad trimming spree that left the trees unbalanced. If there was another ice storm the trees are sure to come down, this time on the house and over the sidewalk many children use to go to the school down the street. About a year and a half ago I informed the city of their hatchet job and the need for the trees to come down.
Now the house is for sale. 1 month ago they took the branches and left me 2 toothpicks standing in front about 10-12 feet high. They were below the cable lines so they were not too high. Today I installed a new 20 in. bar on the saw (I've never needed more than the 16 I bought with the saw...) and went after the toothpicks. The city obviously isn't worried about my house selling.
Well, I dropped them both and was in the process of cutting them into rounds when 2 city trucks pull up and tell me I can't cut them down, that they are city trees and there is an ordanance against doing so. Apparantly I can be fined for finishing what the city left. We bickered back and forth and eventually I said I was sorry for cutting their toothpicks down. I think that is all the guy wanted to hear.
He'll be out tomorrow morning to pick up the stuff I didn't want and grind the stumps. The neighbors and I have never seen the city move so fast. I've called the cops in the past and they didn't show up that fast. If I ever come across a crime in progress I'll be sure to cut the tree down in front of the house in order to summon help quickly.
Matt
Now the house is for sale. 1 month ago they took the branches and left me 2 toothpicks standing in front about 10-12 feet high. They were below the cable lines so they were not too high. Today I installed a new 20 in. bar on the saw (I've never needed more than the 16 I bought with the saw...) and went after the toothpicks. The city obviously isn't worried about my house selling.
Well, I dropped them both and was in the process of cutting them into rounds when 2 city trucks pull up and tell me I can't cut them down, that they are city trees and there is an ordanance against doing so. Apparantly I can be fined for finishing what the city left. We bickered back and forth and eventually I said I was sorry for cutting their toothpicks down. I think that is all the guy wanted to hear.
He'll be out tomorrow morning to pick up the stuff I didn't want and grind the stumps. The neighbors and I have never seen the city move so fast. I've called the cops in the past and they didn't show up that fast. If I ever come across a crime in progress I'll be sure to cut the tree down in front of the house in order to summon help quickly.
Matt