ST0102-CS030202
MEMORANDUM
FROM THE
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
To:
Amanda Vanhoosier, Community Projects Coordinator
From:
Garreth Campbell, Construction Inspector
Office Phone: (972) 304-3685
Fax: (972) 304-3570
Date: February 20, 2003
RE:
Tree Removal on Construction Projects
Thank you so much for your interest and promotion of the Engineering Departments’ action
in contracting with a tree company for the removal and disposition of the 120+ trees on the
Ruby Road construction project. As we have discussed previously, “Tree Removal” was a
line item in the original proposal and would have left the disposition of the trees to the
discretion of the successful bidder. Many of these trees were in excess of 24” in diameter.
They would have most likely been pushed down, crushed and broken until they could be
loaded into trucks and hauled to some landfill. Luckily that action was avoided.
This project was originally designed for and would have been built by a private developer.
The City was participating in the cost of the project and time was a critical issue. Because of
those factors, the Engineering Department became more and more involved. This led to a
proposal to pull the tree removal line item from the original contract, in the belief that time
would be saved because this portion of the work could be completed before the balance of the
work would begin. It was also believed that the cost would be less because we would be
negotiating directly with the tree removal company assuring that this portion of the project
would be done by people who are skilled in this type of work.
As you know, there is a difference between surgically removing trees and bulldozing them
down. It was specified that all wood large enough for firewood shall be cut for that purpose,
all stumps shall be ground into mulch and all leaves, twigs and limbs too small for firewood
shall be ground into mulch. Additionally, it was specified that all mulch be stockpiled onsite
for use by the citizens of Coppell for as long as it was needed with the balance to be used by
"CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN"
the Parks Department at their discretion. With the support of the City Engineer and the City
Manager, all these things did occur. The cost savings are estimated to be between $10,000
and $20,000. We can’t be sure because we have no comparative bids. But one thing is for
sure, many trucks, cars, and SUV’s have left the stockpile with a pick-up bed, trailer, trash
bags or boxes full of good mulch and much of it has been hauled to the Community Gardens
as well.
It therefore occurs to me that if we can perform a task cheaper, quicker, do it better and at the
same time provide a service for our citizens while saving landfill space, we might just be on to
something.
"CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN"