A damaged tree on village property will be removed thanks to the pleas of a homeowner.
Tom McCormick, owner of a home at Slater/Church, told Lake Orion Village Council members on Dec. 8 the tree was damaged during the late winter ice storm.
?(If it fell) it could hit wires and could destroy half of my house,? he said.
McCormick had earlier told LO Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel about the tree. She met with Don Jidas, who has a tree service, on Dec. 3.
He told Van Tassel the maple tree was in good shape and that Detroit Edison should trim any problem branches because they were close to wires.
Jidas also advised that there was one section of the tree that could be cut out by the village’s DPW. That was taken care of by the DPW on Dec. 5.
‘I’m still worried; I’ve gone through two ice storms. Although Jidas said the tree was healthy, it’s still leaning. Being healthy is not an excuse for not taking it down,? McCormick said.
‘The question is any liability in the future. If it’s determined the branches aren’t a threat to that house, I want documentation that it was safe.?
Several councilmen had looked at the tree and agreed with McCormick that the tree is dangerous.
‘There is danger there. There is a problem and a fear. Just look at the weight and how it’s hanging over,? Douglas Dendel said.
The council agreed the tree should be taken down as soon as possible.