Description
Who is responsible for trimming these tree branches? This has been reported several times!!!! Plus the roots of the tree are pushing up the sidewalk which is a hazard. You can't walk/bike on the sidewalk without getting hit by the branches. Also when driving and pulling over for another car these branches hit your car. What is going to happen when winter comes and these branches hang lower from the snow and ice! All previous updates say investigating. Does it take all summer to investigate? Need action now please.
also asked...
Q. Are you reporting a Fallen Tree, Damaged Tree, or Fallen Branches?
A. No Answer Given
A. No Answer Given
Q. Is it on the parkway or private property?
A. No Answer Given
A. No Answer Given
Q. Is it blocking a sidewalk or street?
A. No Answer Given
A. No Answer Given
3 Comments
City of Hammond (Verified Official)
Street Department 1 (Verified Official)
Acknowledged Trees (Verified Official)
First we wanted to give you the standard response to tree trimming and then follow it up with a little more detail to help clarify the situation.
This department will remove trees when they are dead, dying, diseased, etc. Pruning and trimming are the responsibility of the property owners as per City Ordinance as stated in the Arboricultural Specifications Manual for the City of Hammond. Specifically, section 1-7 B.
Exceptions are made on a case by case basis depending on the circumstances and availability of staff to trim the trees. We will investigate this issue but low hanging branches on parkway and alley trees are usually not an exception and will be the responsibility of the property owners.
To explain further, we will remove trees that are causing sidewalk damage. These issues are lower priorities then say a dead tree leaning next to a playground. We are faced with a finite forestry budget and have to judiciously choose which trees will be removed. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic not a lot of forestry work was accomplished in the last couple years and that has created a serious backlog of problem tree issues.
When it comes to trimming we have a small crew that works in our parks that we try to utilize to trim smaller parkway trees when they are available. We do not trim trees in the summer months. The basic rule is that you only prune trees in months with the letter R in them. If you create wounds in a tree in the summer months they are more susceptible to disease and parasitic insect infestation that can potentially prove fatal to the tree.
We just began trimming at the beginning of this month and will revisit your location soon. We will also investigate the sidewalk issue and potentially put the tree on our removal list.
We hope this has explained the issue in more detail for you.