Cutting down a tree seems an odd way to celebrate, but this year marks the 20th Anniversary of Hinton’s Designation as a Tree City, and with that designation comes the duty to take care of trees, maintain the health of trees, and, yes, sometimes remove them.
As chainsaws roared and machinery maneuvered above and around the tree, Hinton City Manager Cris Meadows explained that the city tree board determined a tree near Courthouse Square was not healthy and was becoming a wind threat.
“After an examination by professionals, it was discovered the tree was literally hollow in the middle, in addition, was vine-covered and at risk of dying and creating other problems,” according to Hinton Tree Board Chairman Steve Pack.
“Two huge trees had to come down” in the 100 block of Ballengee Street. One tree, towering above the green area of the block has, for years, created unsafe sidewalk issues as roots spread under the concrete and caused major buckling and large cracks. Sidewalk replacement will happen when weather allows, as a section of sidewalk was in such disrepair it had to be removed.
Other members on the Hinton Tree Board include Donna Pivont, Pat Jordan and Dwight Emrich.
Leonard Bowyer Tree Trimming from Alderson was the tree service company the board entrusted with the tree maintenance and removal.
“Leonard has worked for the city for over 20 years,” Pack said. “And after listening to residents the board has been going through town, responding to citizens who called in, and trees were trimmed and worked on in several parts of town. We have a budget of about $2 per capita and a budget of $5,500. We find that the most economical time to acquire tree maintenance services is in the months of January and February, so that’s why we have tried to get as much as we can done.”
Pack added, “We were able to do this work with the support of the mayor and the city council. All the funds are channeled through the city. We are also lucky to have city workers Anthony Gray and Dale Starks working on the project and all of the city’s street workers.”
To be designated as a Tree City, certain qualifications were required. The city of Hinton, complied with the necessary requirements by creating tree board, maintaining the health of trees, promoting the growth and health of trees and by commemorating Arbor Day every year. Arbor Day events are planned for early April.
