News : Tree workshops set; participants to receive financial assistance for planting

The City of Vinton is getting closer to finishing up plans for tree workshops to assist property owners who want to replant trees in the right-of-way area next to their property. We have tentatively set workshop dates and times, but need to gauge the interest of property owners to participate. The workshops held on Tuesday and Thursday will begin at 6:30 PM, while the workshop on Saturday will be at 10:00 AM. Locations are listed below:

The workshop dates are:

* Tuesday, January 15 at US Bank Community Room, corner of A Avenue and West 5th Street

* Thursday, January 31 at US Bank Community Room, corner of A Avenue and West 5th Street

* Tuesday, February 5 at US Bank Community Room, corner of A Avenue and West 5th Street

* Thursday, February 7 at US Bank Community Room, corner of A Avenue and West 5th Street

* Saturday, February 2 at Vinton City Hall, 110 West 3rd Street

Please call Vinton City Hall at 472-4707 as soon as possible and let us know which workshop you would like to attend. This will assist in letting us know if we need to make any modifications to the above schedule, such as adding more workshops.

Workshop participants will receive a certificate for up to $150 for a tree to be planted in the right-of-way or up to $225 if two trees are desired. The choice of tree nursery will be the property owner’s choice, but will be limited to nurseries in the Benton/Linn/Blackhawk county area that have agreed to participate in our program. We will be working with nurseries before the January workshops to make the trees available for this program.

Furthermore, property owners will also receive assistance from Trees Forever and the city in selecting the proper variety of tree that will fit on their right-of-way area, in addition to information on proper tree planting and care. Not every tree will work on every property. By ordinance, the city restricts some species, and other considerations, such as sight clearance around corners or electric utility lines need to be considered.

Please note that this program is targeted to replace right-of-way trees. The right-of-way area is that part of a yard that is between the sidewalk and curb, or where utility poles are normally located. If you have any questions concerning where the right-of-way area is located on your property or about the replacement effort in general, please contact Vinton City Coordinator, Andy Lent at 472-4707; or by email at alent@vintoniowa.net.