Road Commission will clear ash trees

By Tom Gilchrist Staff Writer

CARO Tuscola County Road Commission leaders plan to use about $582,000 in grant money to remove trees in the road right-of-way along 40.6 miles of roads in nine townships.

Some but not all of the trees targeted for removal are ash trees killed by the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle native to Asia that has killed millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan since the beetle was discovered near Detroit in 2002.

The intent of the tree-removal program is to reduce accidents in the county.

About 17 county residents attended a public hearing Thursday morning regarding trees that have been marked for removal in selected spots in Arbela, Millington, Watertown, Tuscola, Vassar, Fremont, Ellington, Elkland and Columbia townships.

We have, potentially, 800 properties involved, said County Highway Engineer Michele L. Zawerucha, who said she received confirmation by telephone that the county Road Commission has received the grant.

Workers have marked some of the trees targeted for removal and the Road Commission has mailed postcards to property owners in the affected areas.

The trees are in the road right-of-way controlled by the Road Commission, an area that by law extends 33 feet in each direction from the centerline of a road.

Watertown Township resident Mark E. Valentine, who lives along Edward Road, said he supports the Road Commissions project.

My feeling is, if its in the road right-of-way, cut the tree, Edwards said at Thursdays public hearing before the board overseeing the Road Commission.

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Road Commission will clear ash trees