City council greenlights tree protection program
Apr. 17—TIFTON — City council has passed an ordinance that will establish more protection for Tifton's public trees.
This will see an amendment made to the Tifton Tree Ordinance, mandating that if a resident is to plant, prune or remove a publicly owned tree on private property, they must follow the city's permitting process to do so. The amendment, which establishes that permitting process, will also require a replacement tree or trees that are double or triple the diameter of the one cut, depending on whether the violation is a first or a repeat offense.
Tifton Tree Board liaison Michael Mitchem requested the adjusted processes at the April 1 meeting, explaining that many of the trees that had been planted by the Tree Board through grant programs had been removed or pruned by property owners despite them being public property, and that this program would help disincentivize them from removing or trimming the trees for any reasons other than disease, age, or damage.
Violators of this new policy will be able to appeal their citation, but will be expected to care for the newly planted tree if they are required to plant one in response to their violation.
Residents may find more information about the updated ordinance on the Tree Board's page on the City of Tifton website. City Manager Emily Beeman also expressed that the city community development department would be available for further questions.
