Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

Many of you are still cleaning up from the aftermath of the powerful storm that passed through Minneapolis at the end of June. I am pleased to announce that the trees that were actively blocking streets in the First Ward have been removed, though work continues in other parts of the City. If you have questions or concerns regarding boulevard trees, please call the Forestry Department of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) at 612- 370-4900. MPRB is also currently working with its contractor to make wood chips available to the public. If you need someone to remove a tree on your private property, I encourage you to visit the City’s website for tips on hiring a contractor and a list of contractors licensed in Minneapolis.

Other issues arose from the storms as well:

• Many downed trees pulled up or otherwise damaged adjacent sidewalks. Given the extreme nature of this storm and the number of properties affected, the City will not be assessing any homeowners for repairs to their sidewalks for damage resulting from the storm.
  
• Many people who rely on electrically-powered medical devices in their homes found themselves in difficult circumstances during the extended power outage following the storm. While we may not see such widespread outages again in the near future, it’s good to keep in mind that the Red Cross is an excellent resource for people who can’t use the medical devices they rely upon. Our local Red Cross can be reached at 612-871-7676.
  
• While MPRB’s boulevard pick-up of tree limbs ends on 7/12, regular yard waste collection will be available all summer. Brush and small branches should be bundled and secured with twine or rope. Each bundle must be less than 3 feet long and must weigh less than 40 pounds. Bundles of yard waste should be placed at your alley or curbside pickup location by 6 a.m. on your normal collection day.

Keep an eye out next spring for low-cost trees from our partnership with the Tree Trust so we can continue building our urban forest.