Project Awarded to...

Two proposals were received.

RJ's Tree Farms submitted a quote for $70,000 plus HST. This price included skidding tops to a designated area, and the Township of Huron-Kinloss would be responsible for the brush burning or chipping. Staff does not recommend burning as an appropriate solution for this geographic area, and chipping may not be an option at this time due to limited staff resources.

Savage Bros. Tree Service submitted a quote for $85,000 plus HST. This quote included chipping 90% of the tops. Brad Savage has estimated 600 trees that will be removed most of which are ash trees that are showing significant signs of Emerald ash borer damage. The balance of trees marked for removal are hazard trees that pose a threat to public safety. Township staff would be designating wood chip depots for later use or could be made available to local residents as well.

The work would start in October 2018 and be completed by March of 2019. Staff advises Council that there may be other trees that may need addressed before the year end, and that if a major storm occurs then this budget would be impacted dramatically.

Staff will bring forward the 2019 tree maintenance operating budget requests at the 2019 budget deliberations.

Savage Bros. Tree Service and staff have discussed the tree top chipping and expect that the trees on the Algonquin Bluff between Park Place and Boiler Beach Road will be the most difficult to remove due to the steep slope which will limit the accessibility of the trees. Staff suggests that a tree planting program should be implemented in 2019 in order to ensure the slope is stabilized for future generations. The tree planting program will be brought forward in the 2019 budget.

Staff recommends that Savage Bros. Tree Service be contracted for this work.