Tree Removal

To Highlands County commissioners: There is little doubt that most people understand the important values that trees have in our quality of life. For example: Trees increase property values, reduce cooling costs, reduce air pollution, reduce water usage, reduce run-off and according to facts contained in an official publication by Florida Power, "trees properly located along traffic corridors slow traffic thereby reducing road rage."

Therefore county commissioners, you will excuse me for being extremely upset by seeing the removal of all the trees on Tomoka Boulevard. There was a nice mixture of pine, bottle brush and even stately palm trees that were cut down and stumps removed as well. I travel that way at least three times per month and in my controlled rage I now report this to you. Investigation of the circumstances reveals that three entities: The hospital on the south, the nursing home to the north and the community of Tomoka Heights, all asked the county to remove the trees as they wanted to landscape the median in order to "beautify the area." The trees were no threat to underground utilities.

County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete verified the fact of the three entities being involved: The reason for the removal of the trees and the cost to remove, $2,400 was paid for with taxpayer's money. It is my contention that the $2,400 cost should have been paid by the three entities requesting the tree's removal, not county taxpayers.

There are several questions that now should be asked by the Board of County Commissioners: When does the county get reimbursed? Who will design the landscaping? Will native plants be used? Who will put in the irrigation system? Who will pay for the water use? Who will have the responsibility of maintaining the plantings? Who will pay for replacing and replanting bushes and shrubs that "don't make it."

Most troubling to me as part of my investigation into this fiasco was an admission by the county engineer that this removal of trees will occur again and again in other parts of Highlands County. Are we allowing our tree ordinance to be ignored? Is there a tree ordinance?

Hank Kowalski
Lake Placid