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Lacey Francis, Warsaw Superintendent of Public Works, doesn't want people to think he dislikes the stately beauty of large old trees.
And he likes blooming bushes and shrubs, too.
What Francis doesn't like is to see this vegetation encroaching into the public rights of way of the numerous alleys in town, creating a damaging gantlet his garbage and other service trucks must negotiate on a daily basis.
Starting next month, he's determined to do something about it.
"Starting in August, I'm going to start going down through the alleys in certain areas of town and begin trimming back the brush and tree limbs that are hanging over the alleys," he said Thursday, during a tour of some of the most overgrown alleys.
"This vegetation is causing a lot of damage to our trucks - knocking off mirrors and lights," he added. "I've also had my crews injured with scratches and cuts, some where they've had to go to MedStat, and that costs the city a lot of money."
The cost involved with cleaning up the alleys is even higher. He estimates the cost for city crews to trim back all encroaching vegetation would be $87,120 in labor, equipment and insurance costs.
Francis said the problem is usually a matter of property owners not realizing it is their responsibility to ensure their trees and shrubbery are kept clear of public street, alleys and sidewalks. He wants to give those property owners fair notice of his intentions so they can correct the problem themselves and not have the city crews do it - something Francis said may not be as satisfactory as what the property owners may do themselves.
"I'm forewarning people now to let them know if they don't take care of it, we will," he said. "I've had people call me, when we've done this before, complaining that we didn't trim the trees the right way and that we had no right to touch their trees.
"Well, I do have the right. The city ordinance says it's the property owner's responsibility to keep bushes and trees out of the alley right of way, and if they don't, we (the city) can clear them," he said.
City ordinance 18-46 says: "It shall be the duty of the owner of each lot, part of a lot, or parcel of ground in the city to trim the shade trees along the sidewalks (or city right of way) adjacent thereby cutting the (limbs) thereof close to the trunk and in such a manner that the overhanging foliage - branches thereof - shall not at any time be less than 10 feet above the ground or walk."
Francis said the problem is particularly bad on the east side of Warsaw, and that is where his crews will start in August.
"I could put two crews of three men out there for a week cleaning these alleys out and still get all of it," he said.
Francis said he anticipates his city crews will begin trimming by Aug. 15.
"If anyone has any type of decorative vegetation needing trimmed, they need to get it taken care of," he said.
Francis also suggested that property owners with trees growing into the power lines along the alleys can call NIPSCO. The utility has a program, which is free, to trim these trees back.
