Woodbury launches ash tree removal financing program
The City of Woodbury announced a new financing program to help homeowners cover upfront costs of removing ash trees damaged by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer.
The Private Ash Tree Removal Assessment Program allows the city to pay contractors directly for tree removal, with costs added to homeowners' property taxes over time at bond interest rates. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis with funding allocated over three years.
"The Emerald Ash Borer is destroying ash trees across the area, and as they die, they become brittle, unstable and a serious safety hazard," according to the city's announcement. While Woodbury manages trees in public spaces, officials recognized that private property tree removal can be expensive for residents.
To qualify, properties must be privately owned with ash trees, and homeowners must apply directly. Rental properties, homeowner associations and commercial properties are not eligible because costs are tied to individual property taxes. Applicants must submit two quotes from certified arborists and their 2024 property tax statement.
Approved applicants have seven days to sign and notarize assessment agreements before receiving authorization to begin removal. After work completion, homeowners submit final invoices and removal photos to the city, which then pays contractors and adds costs to property tax bills.
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Private Ash Tree Removal Assessment Program
▸Meeting Analysis
▸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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