Chicago tree trimming backlog is 2 years

Theres a tree trimming backlog of about two years in Chicago, a top aide to Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday.

Charles Williams, commissioner of the Department of Streets and Sanitation, offered that estimate during a break in City Council hearings on the mayors proposed 2015 budget. Earlier, aldermen had pressed Williams on the issue of the tree trimming backlog, which results in a lot of complaints from the people they represent.

Emanuel has set aside an extra $500,000 in overtime next year for Streets and Sanitation workers to remove trees during 30 weekend shifts, but its unclear whether that will free up workers during the week and allow them to clear the backlog.

Were certainly going to try, said Williams, who noted that the city has trimmed and removed more trees to date this year than it did last year but also has faced a heavier burden because of the emerald ash borer and one particularly nasty storm. Were going to make every effort, he said.

Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, noted that on occasion the city has to pay out a big lawsuit award because of someone injured by a falling tree. We end up paying more in settlements than we do in the overall tree trim budget, Waguespack said. Thats (why) I hope we can hammer out these in this next year.

In April, the council approved a $5.75 million settlement on behalf of Erick Leon, who was paralyzed from the waist down when a tree limb fell on him in 2011 on a Lincoln Park street after he made a food delivery. The city had received numerous requests to remove dead branches from the tree that date to at least October 2010, according to documents filed in the lawsuit.

If we find one in worse condition than the other one, were certainly going to move that one up on the list, Williams responded. We do make priorities of those. ... If were aware of it, were taking it down. Thats always a priority.

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Chicago tree trimming backlog is 2 years