Minutes from the September 24, 2013 meeting

Board Members Present:  Brenda Douce, Joe Laforest, Michael Mitchem, Al Potts, and Jeannie Rigdon.

Visitors Present:  Duncan McClusky

SAVANNAH LAWSUIT
A woman in Savannah was awarded $12 million in court when she was hit by a falling tree limb.  http://savannahnow.com/news/2013-08-22/jury-awards-woman-12-million-against-savannah-fallen-limb-case#.UkLgBD-GdI0

TREES
There is a tree at 10^th and Tift where the base of the tree looks bad.  Davey Tree may not have surveyed this tree and the thought was that this tree is on the list to be removed.

There is a large pecan tree across from First United Methodist Church on 12^th Street that has been reported to be leaning towards the street.  The person is afraid the tree will fall over. 

There is a large pine tree in the middle of the old Anne Belle School with a branch that has broken off and is hanging.  The tree is not on the right of way but could be a hazard with the number of children playing in the playground. 

An oak tree at 614 Ridge Avenue has been dropping limbs

A limb fell out of an oak (?) tree at 710 Park and landed near the garbage can.  The homeowner wants the tree removed. 

Joe will email the board the addresses of the trees to be reviewed.

BOARD MEMBERSHIP
The board heard a report that Victoria Watson has submitted a request to be released from being a Tree Board member. 

GEORIGA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL MEETING

The Georgia Urban Forestry Council (http://www.gufc.org/) will be meeting on October 23-24, 2013 in Columbus, Georgia.  Tree Board members can write an essay about why they want to attend this meeting and what knowledge they hope to bring back to their job.  The people selected from these essays will receive a $135 scholarship to pay their registration for the meeting.  No one from the Tift County Tree Board was interested in attending.

DOGWOOD TREES
Jeannie Rigdon has marked a couple dozen dead dogwood trees around the old Anne Belle Clark School that can be removed.  Joe Laforest is going to contact the wood turners in the area to see if they would be interested in the larger pieces of wood.  There was a discussion about how to dispose of the remaining smaller pieces of wood. 

ABAC TREE CAMPUS CERTIFICATION
ABAC has been working hard on receiving the Tree Campus Certification.  They have completed most if not all the requirements and the report should be submitted by December. 

LIABILITIES
There was a short discussion about who would be liable if a tree or part of a tree caused damage by falling in Tifton.  The city has known about the hazardous tree situation for some time due to the Davey tree inventories.  However, the Tree Board has no authority and can only recommend actions to the city.  The Tree Board should not be liable if anything did happen.