Woodbury launches program to help homeowners remove ash trees
The Woodbury City Council introduced a new financing program to help homeowners pay for removing ash trees dying from the Emerald Ash Borer infestation. The program allows the city to cover upfront removal costs, with homeowners repaying through their property taxes over time.
Woodbury is tackling a growing environmental and safety problem with a creative financing solution. The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect, is destroying ash trees across the region. As the trees die, they become brittle and unstable, posing serious safety hazards to homes and neighborhoods.
To address this issue, the city created the Private Ash Tree Removal Assessment Program. Here's how it works: The city pays the upfront cost of removing ash trees from private property. That cost is then added to the homeowner's property tax bill, similar to how the city finances road repair projects. The repayment amount also includes bond interest rates set for that year.
The program has specific eligibility requirements. Only owner-occupied homes qualify. Rental properties, homeowner associations, and commercial properties are excluded because the financing mechanism is tied to individual property taxes.
Homeowners interested in the program will need to provide their 2024 property tax statement, available from the Washington County Taxpayer website. The application process involves receiving a conditional approval letter, then signing and having notarized an assessment agreement and waiver document. Once all paperwork is complete, the city issues an authorization letter allowing homeowners to begin tree removal work.
The program represents an effort by city officials to help residents manage a costly problem while protecting their properties and neighborhoods from hazardous dead trees.
This story was created by artificial intelligence (a large language model) based on the proceedings captured in the video below.
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▸Meeting Analysis
“The Emerald Ash Borer is destroying ash trees across the area, and as they die, they become brittle, unstable and a serious safety hazard.”
“So we created the Private Ash Tree Removal Assessment Program. It's a financing option to help homeowners pay for the upfront costs of ash tree removal.”
“The city pays upfront costs of the removal. Then that cost is added to your property taxes, just like a road repair project. Plus, the bond interest rates set for that year.”
“Rental properties, homeowner associations, and commercial properties are not eligible because the cost is tied to individual property taxes.”
▸Source Document
[0:00] The Emerald
Ash Borer is destroying
[0:03] ash trees across the area,
and as they die,
[0:05] they become brittle, unstable
and a serious safety hazard.
[0:08] The city of Woodbury
has a new program
[0:10] to help homeowners
cover the upfront costs
[0:12] of removing dying
ash trees from their yards.
[0:15] The city already manages
[0:16] trees in public spaces,
but we know removing trees on
[0:18] private
property can be expensive.
[0:20] So we created the Private Ash
Tree Removal Assessment Program.
[0:24] It's a financing option
to help homeowners
[0:26] pay for the upfront costs of ash
tree removal.
[0:29] Here's how it works.
[0:30] The city pays
upfront costs of the removal.
[0:32] Then that cost is added
[0:33] to your property taxes,
just like a road repair project.
[0:37] Plus, the bond interest rates
set for that year.
[0:39] The program runs on a first
come, first served basis
[0:42] with a yearly budget
for the next three years.
[0:45] To pre-qualify for the program.
[0:46] The tree must be an ash tree
[0:48] and the property
must be privately owned,
[0:50] and the homeowner is the one
applying for the program.
[0:54] Rental properties,
homeowner associations,
[0:56] and commercial properties
are not eligible
[0:58] because the cost is tied
to individual property taxes.
[1:01] To apply.
[1:02] Start by answering two quick
pre-approval questions online.
[1:05] If you qualify, you'll need
[1:06] to submit your contact
information
[1:08] and two quotes
from Certified Arborist
[1:10] and a PDF of your 2024 property
tax statement.
[1:13] You can get this
on the Washington
[1:15] County Taxpayer website.
[1:16] City staff
will review your application.
[1:18] If approved, you'll receive
a conditional approval letter
[1:21] and an assessment agreement
and waiver document.
[1:24] You'll have seven days
to sign a notarize the document
[1:27] and return it to Public Works.
[1:29] Once we get it back and sign it,
[1:30] you'll receive an authorization
letter to begin tree removal.
[1:34] After the work is done,
[1:36] send us the final invoice
and photos of the removal.
[1:39] The city will
then pay your contractor
[1:40] and the cost will be added
[1:41] to your property taxes
for repayment.
[1:44] To learn more,
visit woodbury.gov/AshRemoval.
This story was created by artificial intelligence (a large language model) based on the proceedings captured in the video below.
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