Tree Removal subject of controversy at city council
Despite the list of ordinances Ravenna City Council had to vote on Monday evening, one citizen’s concern over tree removal dominated the conversation.
John Plough, a former member of the Shade Tree Commission in Ravenna, spoke for an hour about his views on tree removal in the city, and requested a 60-day continuous in order to gather witnesses to attest to an appeal in order to prevent the removal of a tree standing at 401 Madison St.
“I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve watched trees come down from the time I was a little kid,” Plough said. “You act like it’s no big deal that trees that are 75, 85 and 100 years old come down because of a decision, without a chance to go up in front of council and appeal that decision.”
In the end, the council passed a 10-day moratorium in a 4-3 vote. The council asked Plough to return to the next council meeting on Monday, April 11, and present as part of his appeal process any findings, and his feelings on the tree removal slated in the city for the month.
“We’re not sure how or what this is going to look like, because it’s never happened before,” Ravenna City Council President Joseph Bica said. “The consensus of council was to have Mr. Plough come back in on the 11, which is Monday, and present his argument for specific trees, and then there needs to be a decision made based on that.”
| FIVE PASSED ORDINANCES |
| ORDINANCE NO. 2016-043: An ordinance amending ORDINANCE NO. 2015-156, Exhibit “A” Section 1 – Authority to Levy Tax: Purpose of Tax: Subsection (2) – Allocation of Funds and Section 3 – Imposition of Tax by adding the .25% income tax for safety purposes, approved by Ravenna city residents on March 8, 2016, and declaring an emergency.
ORDINANCE NO. 2016-049: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to apply for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Grant to conduct an inventory of the Ravenna city historic buildings, and declaring an emergency. ORDINANCE NO. 2016-050: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the University of Akron Research Foundation for the consulting and expertise for operations and projects in the water plant and wastewater treatment plant, and declaring an emergency. ORDINANCE NO. 2016-054: An ordinance authorizing the mayor apply for the staffing for adequate fire and emergency response (safer) grant to fund two (2) full-time firefighters, and declaring an emergency. ORDINANCE NO. 2016-057: Annual Appropriation Ordinance (revised code section 5705.48) – An ordinance authorizing the appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the city of Ravenna, state of Ohio, during the fiscal year ending December 31,2016, and declaring an emergency. |
