After growing concerns over hundreds of dead and infected Ash trees on or near public properties, the City of Muncie is now calling for licensed and bonded tree removal companies to remove a vast majority of these untreatable trees.  The project is called the “Kick Ash Campaign” and will begin on February 12, 2016, in the city’s McCullough Park and is intended to inform the public on the hazards of dead ash trees on both public and private properties.  This project is the result of a study by the Muncie Urban Forestry Committee which noted that allowing dead Ash trees to remain in urbanized areas posed a hazard to city dwellers as these rotting trees were at risk of breaking and falling, leading to injuries and potential civil liability not only for the city but potential private property owners also.  Numerous local arborists also stated that removal of Ash trees within the city would help in eradicating the Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle which has in only a little over a decade has been responsible for infecting and killing thousands of trees throughout the state of Indiana and the Midwest.  Moreover, despite previous efforts by Ball State University to treat infected Ash trees on their campus and in the city, the university was only able to keep 50 out of some 625 Ash trees once located on the campus.  To further removal efforts and defray taxpayers and private property owners from incurring major costs to remove each tree, the City of Muncie now seeks volunteer removal services to remove the remaining 300 infected Ash trees.

Removing decaying trees and other natural hazards from your premises is a significant way to reduce civil liability, as generally a duty is owed to reasonably maintain one’s property to protect guests and visitors from sustaining injuries.  In addition, to invited guests, a landowner may have duties to protect against serious injury or death to trespassers or children, depending on local or state laws. To learn your rights after being injured while on another’s property, please contact the experienced legal team at Schiller Law at 888-578-3100 on web at IndyInjured.com.

 

Source:

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2016/01/16/city-launches-kick-ash-campaign/78782496/