Alma city officials have hired a consulting firm to look at replacing about 70 trees planted in the downtown area during the 1970s.
A bid of $9,600 submitted by Giffels-Webster of Birmingham has been approved by the city commission.
Two others from companies with offices in Mt. Pleasant were also considered, $10,500 from Rowe Professional Services and $19,040 from OHM Advisors.
Requests for proposals were sent to eight firms with only those three responding, according to interim City Manager and Downtown Development Director Aeric Ripley in his report to city commissioners last week.
The city has set aside $30,000 in the 2022 budget to develop a plan regarding landscaping in the central business district.
“Knowing the removal and replacement of the trees downtown will dramatically change the look and feel of downtown, the process deserves careful review,” Ripley said.
The existing trees are honey locust and some business owners have complained that they have grown so large they block signage and create a mess when shedding leaves and cleanup is continually required.
The city’s Department of Public Superintendent Bob Albrecht has estimated it would cost about $800 to remove each tree and has recommended hiring a private contractor to do the work.
However, the price tag and liability concerns may be reduced if all of the trees were removed all at once rather than in phases.
The cost to replace the trees will depend on the size and type used.
Giffels-Webster, a Michigan-based company founded in 1952, has assigned Stacey Tobar as the city’s consultant and project leader.
Community meetings with her and city officials will be scheduled to get input from the public and downtown business owners.
That will help determine what type of trees will be planted, cost estimates, maintenance plan and whether or not to add new locations or abandon some current spots.
A project timeline will also be developed.
City officials realize that after more than 40 years replacing the trees will have an impact on the aesthetics of downtown.
The final plan will also include the possibility of adding new trash receptacles and bicycle racks in certain spots.
CUTLINE: The city of Alma has hired a consulting firm to do a study on replacing about 70 trees in the downtown area that were planted in the 1970s. (Greg Nelson – The Morning Sun)
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November 30, 2021 at 12:39AM
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Alma looking at replacing downtown trees - The Morning Sun
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