As Jefferson city crews continue to remove dead trees in the right of ways and city-owned property, several dead or dying trees remain on private property.

Jefferson City Administrator Scott Peterson says code enforcer Chad Stevens identified at least 417 dead trees on private property, which has been caused by the Emerald Ash Borer, and that continues to be a statewide issue. Peterson describes how the City Council would like to see this get rolled out, as they discussed it at their August 27th meeting.

“I think they would look at this as a phased type of a project to where they do need to have those trees addressed that do have the most potential then for public harm.  As in those trees which could fall either into the streets, or potentially cause damage on sidewalks, or public utilities.”    

Peterson explains that the first step would be educational information sent to property owners that are impacted to let them know that it is their responsibility to get dead trees removed. He points out that after a certain time period, if a property owner has not proved to the city that they have made arrangements with a contractor to get the trees removed or have them already taken down, that the city can do it by nuisance abatement. 

Peterson notes that if trees are removed by nuisance abatement it is because of a safety hazard. He talks about how the process would work on the city side.

“The city can coordinate a contractor, the city can conceivably pay for the cost of the tree removal upfront with the property owner then reimbursing the cost then over a period of years through a special assessment that is collected as property taxes.”  

Peterson adds that property owners will see additional marketing and receive letters in the mail letting them know what their situation is and how to address it.