Trees cut down and shrubs removed without notice
By Barb Pert Templeton
Marine City Historical Society member Heather Bokram addressed the Marine City Commission during public comments at their July 17 meeting. She said she had two topics to discuss.
The first was to inform officials that the society will be giving out four of their matching grants for Paint the Town. Two have already been given out and two more will be awarded shortly. She said they will be giving away $6,000 with the breakdown being $1,500 each.
The final two are going to two very deserving people that have problems with their properties and the society is trying to “help the city as well as the people,” Bokram said.
The second item Bokram wanted to address with the commission is that the Marine City Historical Society takes care of two city parks, the Watchman and Drake parks, keeping up the landscaping.
“It’s been really crazy this year because of the heat and everything going crazy,” Bokram said.
A number of trees and shrubs were removed from Drake Park but the Marine City Historical Society, that takes care of the landscaping there, was not informed.
She said the society isn’t sure if the city realizes it but they purchased lots of the shrubs, plants and trees in Drake Park.
“We were a little dismayed this year that on the north side of Drake Park on the street side, trees were cut down and shrubs were removed,” Bokram said.
She said they understand that some of the trees and shrubs were blocking access to the electrical and water switches in that area where there’s a low wall.
“We do understand why some of it needed to be removed but it would have been nice if we had been informed ahead of time that this was going to happen,” Bokram said.
Two berry trees were taken down but the roots weren’t removed so now they are sprouting out all over the place.
“We are not going to touch those,” Bokram said. “We are an older group except for one young person so far and so we pay people to weed, plant, mulch and everything and it is expensive.”
Bokram said she had gone to Marine City Nursery to look at replacement shrubs that would be more suitable for the space. She said they will keep in mind the city needing access for electrical and water services at the location.
“We would like to have low growing hydrangeas and other small shrubs none of which would reach a higher height of three feet,” Bokram said.
She noted that some of the grass has grown wild and needs to be cleaned up if not having to remove some of the plants completely.
“It’s costly for us to replace all these plants even though Marine City Nursery will probably give us some discount,” Bokram said. “We’re talking about it costing us $2,000 or maybe more to fill
in where things have been taken out without encroaching on the area needed to get at the (wall) panel.”
Once they pick out some idea of plants the society would like to meet with the appropriate department in the city so they work on the space together going forward.
“We need what we choose approved so it’s not going to get cut down again and especially not without us even knowing,” she said.
Bokram said she didn’t know if the city manager or the DPW would make the decision or speak to the society about the issue.
“We have agreed to take care of these parks and we want to continue to do it but if we’re not consulted about removing things that really isn’t very fair to us,” Bokram said.
City Manager Michael Reaves told Bokram he would meet with her next week to discuss the issues.
“There’s other reasons why, beyond what you’re aware of, that we had to remove plants and bushes and there are issues on going in regards to allowing different vegetation in the parks,” Reaves said. “Before you plant anything – and don’t spend any money – until we have a chance to sit and talk about it.”
Drake Park is located at 401 S. Water Street in Marine City.
