“the reason we are doing this is to let the public know we are officially a tree city.”

On January 18th city council members agreed to purchase a hydraulic tree spade and approximately 1300 trees to use for several landscaping projects coming up that the city has planned. In order to purchase the tree spade and the trees, council members first had to approve a motion to allocate funds from the city’s unused budget.

City of Jasper Animal Control officer Lonnie Waters informed the council that he had found a used tree spade from a landscaping company in Cumming, GA for $3800. City Clerk Tacie Williams mentioned to the council that in her financial budget, $20,000 was budgeted in order to purchase a new Animal Control vehicle. Williams told council that after spending about $16,000 on the vehicle and on additions to the vehicle that around $4,000 was left over that could be used on the tree spade.

Waters then informed the council that the reason he had been looking for a tree spade to purchase was because he was recently contacted by the Dr. E.A Roper family to help disperse of approximately 1300 trees that were located on their property. Waters said that after looking at the trees he contacted the Mayor and they decided that the trees could be used to plant around the city. After negotiating with the Roper family, Waters said that the city agreed to pay a small fee of $3500 and in doing so the Roper family would donate the remainder of the trees to the city.

“These are very beautiful trees,”

explained Waters.

“They are spruce, leyland, magnolia, holly… several different types of trees,”

said Waters. Waters said that the Roper family wanted to help improve the landscape of the city so they decided to give the city a bargain on the trees, and all they asked for in return was that a plaque saying that the trees were donated by the family would be placed in one of the city’s parks.

Williams told the council that the trees couldn’t have shown up at a better time because the city is currently in the middle of trying to begin a trail project out on Hood Rd. Williams said that the plan is to design a walking trail with native trees, flowers, and bushes beside the trail. She said that when Waters discovered all the trees that the Roper family had to offer they were a “natural fit” for the trail project. Williams said that the city is a Tree City USA participant and an Arbor Day participant with an active tree board so the remainder of the trees could be placed all around the city.Williams said that the money to use to purchase the trees could also be allocated from the city’s unused budget because $11,000 was budgeted to purchase a new Kubota mower and only $7500 of the money had been used. Waters said that the Roper family had given the city a two year window to move the trees, and that if needed the city could negotiate for another 12 months after that. After hearing reports from both Waters and Williams, council members approved the left over funds to be allocated from the unused budget to be spent on the tree spade and the trees. Mayor Weaver said at the end of the hearing,

“the reason we are doing this is to let the public know we are officially a tree city.”