Ceres to start picking up root balls Monday

ALBANY – The city of Albany received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Wednesday to begin the process of collecting and removing tree root balls that are on city rights of way adjacent to private property in the city.

The so-called root balls are remains of trees and their root systems that were uprooted in the Jan. 2 storm that tore through the city. Hundreds of them remain on private properties throughout the city, an issue that has caused a bit of consternation among residents, who have asked city officials for help in their removal.

“A lot of people think that, because they pay property taxes, they can give the city permission to come onto their property and it’s OK,” Ward I Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard said Friday. “They don’t take into consideration that there is a liability risk for the city.

“I believe the FEMA approval (to remove root balls from rights of way) is a step in the right direction.”

Assistant City Manager Phil Roberson said he and other city staff are working on a plan whereby volunteer groups throughout the community can go onto private properties and help homeowners move the tree remains onto rights of way. Once they’re so situated, Ceres can collect the debris.

The city said in a news release that its Public Works department has cataloged all the root balls on public property, and on Monday Ceres will start collecting them. All root ball debris remaining on public property is slated to be removed within the next 90 days.

Ward III City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher, who has championed root ball removal throughout the city, said Friday the announcement by FEMA is evidence that the system works.

“The citizens in the community reached out to their leaders; they went through the right channel,” Fletcher said. “And because of their genuine concern, we have worked (with FEMA and Ceres) to help our citizens. This is how the system is supposed to work.”

Anyone seeking additional information may contact Deputy Public Works Director Stacey Rowe at (229) 883-6950.