The Michigan City Tree Board is an advisory board of the city. It was created in 2001 by ordinance, to develop, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, alleys, along streets in the tree lawn, and in other public areas; and to establish educational and informational programs, pamphlets and literature to assist the public in the proper care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of trees and shrubs within private property ownership of the citizens of the city.
When the Tree Board was created, the city had a Vector Control Officer. This officer was a member of the Tree Board by position. In efforts to cut budgets, this position was eliminated and duties were combined with other positions. This leaves the Tree Board with only 6 members.
After discussion, the members of the board made a recommendation to the City Council to replace the Vector Control Officer with one member from any one of the city’s Neighborhood Associations. The recommendation is for a one-year term to be filled each year by a different Neighborhood Association. The Council will not make a change to the ordinance until they have enough assurance that there is sufficient interest from the public to implement this plan.
If you are interested in this position, please stop in the Mayor’s office or the Clerk’s office at City Hall and fill out a form for appointment to boards and commissions. The Clerk will forward these to the Council, and if there is sufficient interest, will amend the ordinance to reflect the new position and the Council will appoint a member. Failing that, the Council will amend the ordinance in another way and appoint one individual for the usual three-year term.
The Tree Board meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM in the West Conference Room in City Hall, 100 E Michigan Blvd.
For more information, call Pat Boy 219-872-5293.