The Tornado Athletics 9 and under baseball team and the Tornado Athletics 10 and under softball team were recognized for  “remarkable” seasons at the Monday Sulphur City Council meeting.

Council members reiterated the commitment to clean up the city and adhere to a new zoning direction that will further delineate residential from business and commercial properties. An ordinance was introduced that could address damaged/dead tree removal on private property.

“It’s not a question of if these trees will fall, but when” said Joy Abshire, City Council, District 4.

She said she is worried about the danger posed by what she described as “skeleton trees,” dead, damaged or diseased trees that constitute a hazard to life, property, infrastructure and surrounding healthy trees.

“Last week in New Orleans, in front of the Cathedral, that’s exactly what happened. A sixteen-year-old was hit by a tree and he was taken to a trauma center,” Abshire said.

LSU AgCenter and arborists told Abshire that the skeleton trees are the result of the two hurricanes and the ice storm.

“Public safety is my primary concern,” she said, noting that when limbs damage power lines, it can also put lives at risk. “These trees also house insects and other pests. Termites love them.”

Abshire said she received a call from a concerned constituent who is on the Public Property Debris Removal List. That means the property  has been approved for cleanup by FEMA. However, the city has no control over when that work will take place.

“I am not the only person in the state concerned,” she said. “In our state, there are two parishes and 18 cities that have dead tree ordinances.”

City Attorney Cade Cole said the council action is an “introduction.” No resolution has been passed or the public hearing held.  However, he gave the council and  public an idea of how the resolution will work if it is passed. The City will charge a $100 fee per property, not per tree. This is not an additional permit that property owners/developers will require in addition to the grading permit. The grading permit allows land clearing. That includes trees.

Cole said liens against property will be handled in the same manner as grass cutting liens.

“If you don’t cut down your dead trees, we will,” he said.  That could result in a lien against the property based on the cost to remove the tree and an additional administrative fee/fine. He said it is not in the city’s best interest to be in the tree removal business. Owners will get plenty of notice to handle the removal before the city takes action.

The Council took a tough stand to enforce current ordinances. They turned down a request to move a mobile home into the city that was over ten years old. They denied a property owner the opportunity to move a mobile home to be used as rental property onto a lot that once held a mobile home rental. When the current owner purchased the property, it was zoned residential. Now it is zoned business. Council approved the extension of use of an RV by a resident who is still battling her insurance company for payment, but with a caveat. They said they will need to see a clean up on the property in 30 days. Four properties were condemned and slated for demolition.