Problem trees prompt Ronan Council discussion

Trees planted on Ronan’s Main Street were a topic of discussion at the Ronan City Council meeting. Leaves have clogged the storm drains during big rainstorms, and city workers have been called out at 1 p.m. to shovel them out.

The leaves plug up gutters as well, and they cause extra sweeping for business owners. Tree roots can wreak havoc on sidewalks too, cause them to buckle in some areas.

Representing the Ronan Chamber of Commerce and delivering a letter for the council, Whitney Liegakos asked if there was a way trees could be trimmed instead of taken down. She said the chamber is willing to assist with some of those costs if it means saving trees.

“I just hate to see a treeless downtown for three years,” Liegakos said, since the chamber is a couple of years away from being shovel ready with a grant to help boost tourism that would include planting more trees.

Mayor Chris Adler, who’s also Ronan’s fire chief, noted that one tree in front of an apartment on Main Street is blocking egress for the occupant and will have to come down. He also pointed out that adjacent landowners deal with fixing sidewalks where trees roots have caused the concrete to heave.

In answering questions about how to fix sidewalks, Dan Miller, director of public works for Ronan, said sometimes they can be ground down or low spots can be filled. Miller said the city will work with property owners.

Liegakos also asked if trees are taken out, would smaller trees be planted to replace them?

Council member Larry Hall said he had taken a stroll around Main Street that evening and noted there were trees that had been trimmed, trees that had not been touched, and trees that were dead.

At the close of the lively discussion that elicited many questions and opinions, Mayor Chris Adler suggested a public meeting to discuss the tree issue with all participants first taking a walk up and down Main Street. That meeting was slated for 6 p.m. Oct. 23, prior to the next City Council meeting.

In other business, council members approved an open container permit for the Madison Herr wedding reception on Oct. 18 at the Community Center with revised hours of 11 a.m. to midnight.

A special meeting prior to the regular meeting focused on Ronan’s Community Development Block Grant.

The council also approved checks for the Water System Improvement Project totaling $360,356 and a draw from the American Rescue Plan Act grant for $396,192, and authorized Mayor Adler and Clerk Kaylene Melton to sign them on behalf of the City of Ronan.