Mason City, Charles City, New Hampton Know Ash Tree Removal a Daunting Task

At one time In Mason City, there were roughly 4,500 Ash trees located in city boulevards.

Public Works Director Jim Collins says, so far, the City’s two full-time tree crews have worked to remove dead Ash trees in the community, and have removed nearly 3,700 of them. Collins says the ash tree removal project has included removing 60 of 142 Ash trees in the city cemetery, 97 of 126 Ash trees from the City golf course, and 195 of 475 Ash trees in City parks. 

Collins adds there were over 1900 Ash trees in city alleyways, flood buyout properties, and walking trails, with a total of 156 trees removed.

Collins also notes that the numbers do not include other varieties of trees removed for disease, any storm damage clean ups, or any tree trimming the crews are trying to keep up with. This also does not reflect any new plantings for the city.

Collins says Ash trees in boulevards and parks nearest to power lines are their priority right now and roads may need to be temporarily closed during these removals for public safety. 

In Charles City, City crews tried to tackle the issue of some 900 dead or dying Ash trees, but those efforts only resulted in taking down about 40 trees a year. The City would later contract with GDB and Sons of Charles City to take down some 600 trees for about $330,000, and then paid about $100,000 to Wilson’s Custom Tree of Cresco to take down around 250 trees.

In recent years, the City of New Hampton also hired Wilson’s to remove  some 200 Ash trees on City properties and right-of-ways for about $230,000.