Sean C. Morgan
The wreckage from February snow, ice and rain storms is still clearly visible along The Narrows west of Sweet Home, with numerous branches and trees down along the south side of Highway 20.
It also took its toll inside Sweet Home, where broken branches and weakened trees can threaten property and even lives, and Code Enforcement Officer Gina Riley has been busy fielding calls about those trees for the past several weeks.
The reports are varied, she said. A typical example might be a branch hanging down, and the caller is concerned that it will fall on his house or a branch lying across a fence.
While she says she’s not an arborist, Riley can check a broken branch and see whether it appears to be immediately dangerous, she said. Upon receiving a call, she goes out and checks the tree and assesses what to do about it.
She sends an e-mail to the Tree Commission, which includes citizens and local experts who evaluate the report.
The reports come in three categories, “dangerous” trees,“ hazardous” trees and “tree problems,” Riley said.
Hazardous trees are those with broken branches, a “widow maker, “that could fall and hit someone, Riley said. A dangerous tree is one that is imminently threatening property or even a life. Problem trees are really about dead trees and other problems.
The Tree Commission provides a recommendation, she said. A tree may be dangerous and require immediate removal. If it is not dangerous, the commission will recommend specific actions.
The last storms broke a lot of branches and damaged fences, Riley said. In many cases, by the time someone reports the tree to code enforcement, the owner has already contacted the insurance company.
Some reports are controversial, Riley said. The large cedar tree behind the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., has been one of those.
A large branch fell in the yard next door, Riley said. The Tree Commission discovered that it had an electrical box installed near the top when it was used as the community Christmas tree.
That box caused the tree to fork and keep growing, she said. One of those forks broke and fell away.
The Tree Commission recommended topping the tree above the box, Riley said. Chamber officials have been discussing taking down the tree instead, to make room for a new driveway.
“Those are the types of things we’re dealing with,” Riley said. Usually, a reported tree is on private property.
Public Works takes care of tree problems in the public right-of-way and on public property, she said.
The storms knocked down a plethora of branches, Riley said. About half a dozen were of real concern, requiring an evaluation. Only one, on Mountain View, fell across a road.
The city replants fallen trees on public property.
For general questions about trees, residents should contact Public Works Director Mike Adams at (541) 367-5128.
To report dangerous and hazardous trees, contact Riley at the Police Department at (541) 367-5181.