KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County commission will decide whether or not they want to use political leverage to get the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County to back off on its plans to chop down roadside trees.
The road commission has a $25 million Safe Streets For All grant to take a number of steps to reduce accidents, and removing trees is one of them.
But homeowners like the trees and don’t want to lose them.
The arguments of the road commission were bolstered by a car crash into a tree that killed two Mattawan teens and injured three others last month.
County commission chair Jen Strebs, who was elected to the state House Tuesday, has taken the side of voters.
She wants the county board to approve a resolution urging the road commission to impose a moratorium on the tree cutting until they have engaged with the public.
If they don’t comply in 60 days, then the county will discuss having road commissioners elected instead of appointed.
“A number of the points of conflict that I have seen with the road commission over my years on the board are all generally tied to a lack of community engagement,” says Strebs.
But other commissioners wonder if they have the legal authority to even discuss such a resolution, and point out they have already rejected a proposal to elect road commissioners.
County commissioner Dale Deleeuw says “It seems just operationally impossible, but, I don’t want to say it’s a threat, but.”
Commissioner Tami Rey also said it sounds like a threat, adding “I have no interest in threatening the road commission. It’s childish.”
Attorney Lewis Smith says he has been looking into the legality of this and other actions the board might pursue.
A resolution has been drafted.
Whether or not it has enough votes will be determined at this week’s meeting.
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