Cedar Rapids is starved for trees. A city error felled one more

In September, we received a message from the city, stating that unless we could prove the ash tree in front of our house had been treated for ash borer beetles, it would be cut down. We submitted an email after the tree was treated and were told that our tree would be taken off the list of trees to cut down.

The next day, city workers started taking down the larger limbs of the tree. My husband was able to stop them but it was severely butchered.

We received an apology email which stated, “this address slipped through the cracks in terms of letting our contractor know not to remove the tree- sometimes you think you hit 'send' on a message only for it not to send...we are contacting them to let them know not to remove the tree.”

While we were out of town, the city finished the job that should never have been started, and felled the tree.

Cutting down a tree we planted 23 years ago is hardly an inconvenience. Much of our canopy was lost during the 2020 derecho. The city's priority should be to preserve our trees. We find it indefensible that the city assumes the right to cut down the trees we have left.

We don't appreciate the removal of our thriving tree. Please show the citizens who plant and care for the trees some respect. Involve us in the decision making. The city was wrong to remove our tree without our consent.

Bettina Buck-Luton

Cedar Rapids