City of Greenville to hold tree lottery

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GREENVILLE – The City of Greenville Tree Commission will conduct a tree lottery this month, selecting up to 15 recipients to receive a tree and have it planted on their property, free of charge.

A drawing to select the winners will take place at noon Aug. 27 on the front steps of the Municipal Building.

Entry forms are now available in the Mayor’s Office and must be completed and returned by noon Aug. 24.

The Tree Commission is made up of a group of Greenville residents who help the city deal with trees that need to be cut down or replaced.

“They’re a group of citizens that care about the environment and want to help the city out,” Mayor Steve Willman said. “A lot of times there are trees that need to be cut down. You need to get a permit to do that, and they may need to be replaced as well. The committee members, they take a little time out of their day, and they go out and check these places out and find out what needs to be done and then they report back to us.”

The tree lottery, according to Willman, came about as a way to streamline the process of cutting down and replacing some of these trees.

“We had a little extra money,” Willman said. “There’s sometimes 20, 30 or even 40 trees a year that need to be replaced. It’s helpful to do it this way, so that people can pick out a tree and we do it for them. It’s easier that way, so we can make sure it’s done right. They pick out a tree, and we’ll get out there in the fall and get it done.”

Eligibility guidelines for the lottery are as follows:

  • Only property owners living within the corporation limits will be eligible to participate in the lottery, and only one entry is allowed per property.
  • Property owners who fail to properly maintain either a replacement tree or lottery tree will not be eligible to participate in future lotteries.
  • Property owners will not be eligible to receive a tree through the lottery process in two consecutive years.
  • All lottery trees will be planted within the corporation limits, in the public right-of-way, and in accordance with the city’s tree ordinance and planting regulations.
  • All lottery trees will require a tree planting permit, which will be supplied at no charge. A tree permit application must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Mayor in order for the city to purchase and plant the tree.
  • Recipients need not be present at the Aug. 27 drawing in order to win.
  • Trees contestants may choose from include: flowering crabapple, golden rain tree, hawthorn, red maple, black tupelo, sweetgum and sugar maple.

Questions may be directed to the Office of the Mayor at (937)548-1819.

The City of Greenville Tree Commission will conduct a tree lottery this month, selecting up to 15 recipients to receive a tree and have it planted on their property, free of charge.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_flowering-crab-mamab.jpgThe City of Greenville Tree Commission will conduct a tree lottery this month, selecting up to 15 recipients to receive a tree and have it planted on their property, free of charge. Courtesy photo

By Tony Baker

[email protected]

The writer may be reached at 937-569-4315. To join the conversation and get updates on Facebook, search Advocate360. For more features online, go to dailyadvocate.com.

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