How do you define the role of goverment? What’s the rightful place in your life for any government branch? What about at the most local level - the city? Here in Aurora, Colorado I’m sure they think they’re doing their best by “keeping us safe” but their road is well paved with good intentions like this:
…if the city’s Parks and Open Space Department…finds a resident or an employee of an unlicensed firm pruning or removing trees, they can call on code enforcement staff to issue the offender a summons.
Uh huh. A summons.
Aurora currently requires that anyone working on trees in the city obtain a license from the city. This requirement applies to both individuals and companies, and includes a test based on standards from the International Society of Arboriculture, an organization specializing in the study, care and science of trees.
“There’s a 100-question test. You also have to get a business license within the city of Aurora, too,” Wesolowski said. “You need to be licensed in order to do tree work.
You can’t prune your own tree unless you’re a professional. A licensed professional. AND you have a business license. To prune your own freakin’ tree. That’s my city government at work.
More government is never the right answer.
5 Comments
It’s not clear to me that this requirement applies to individuals in their own yards? I thought it was talking about pruning trees in the park? Because I like to prune city trees in my spare time. It’s late–did I mis-read it? Is the Park and Rec division going to patrol the hoods now looking for unlicensed arborists? And what will they be summoned to? Please clear it all up for me, Mr. D. Am mightily confused.
Then again, I don’t live in Aurora so I guess it’s all moot! I will hack away at my own Centennial trees with impunity!
I’m not totally clear, but it sure reads as though it applies to residential property as well as city property. Code Enforcement officers are common enough around here - I’ve had neighbors get warnings for visible trash cans, etc (oddly, not for the broken down RV that hasn’t moved from the driveway of the house down the street in 8 years, though).
If you have a tree that hangs over a sidewalk it seems that you’re prime picking for one of those newly-empowered officers.
And Amy, you’re close enough that I wouldn’t temp fate if I were you!
Well, don’t expect government to recognize its own limits. The City of Aurora also required that dogs be registered with the city. When we lived in Aurora, we simply ignored that law. I wasn’t aware of the requirement to obtain a license to prune a tree, but I pruned my trees without a license, and with impunity.
Sometimes you just have to disobey.
You rebel.
Geez …