KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Besieged by angry constituents, the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County offered to reduce the number of roadside trees they plan to remove by half, but that’s still not good enough for south county homeowners.
The federally funded Safe Streets for Everyone program has identified trees as a hazard to safe navigation, and the cause of many deaths and injuries.
Last night, the determined residents took their case to the Kalamazoo County board to insist that only dead and dying trees should be removed, and that the problem isn’t the trees, it’s bad drivers.
Resident Bill Farmer says it’s a compromise they aren’t willing to make.
Over a dozen residents urged county commissioners to do something about the road commission.
Board vice chair John Taylor says there is not much they can do.
It was suggested they dissolve the road board and make it a county department.
Chair Jen Strebs mentioned her failed proposal to elect road officials.
Road Commission of Kalamazoo County chair David Powloski says discussions are ongoing.
It was controversy like this that prompted the Kalamazoo County board to create a separate road commission decades ago, to remove politics from the question of road maintenance.
This board doesn’t seem eager to jump back into the fray.
Residents now have 2,100 signatures on a petition to save the trees.
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