Oakwood Sexton Updates Board On Cemetery Tree Trimming
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Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Oakwood Cemetery sexton Hal Heagy updated the Board of Regents on what was going on at the cemetery during its meeting Thursday, including tree trimming.
Tree trimming for this year has wrapped up.
Beaver Dam Tree Service completed $14,000 to $15,000 of work this year, Heagy said. This includes tree clean-up and removing what he terms as widowmakers from trees.
Heagy addressed an anonymous letter the Times-Union received in November during Thursday’s meeting asking about markings on some trees at the cemetery.
Heagy informed the board the letter was not signed, but the person seemed upset and wanted to know why he was taking “all the trees down in Oakwood Cemetery,” he said. What was seen were red pins marked by Beaver Dam Tree Service to know what trees needed to be cleaned up or have widowmakers taken down.
“No, we’re not taking them all down,” Heagy said.
He said he plants between $3,000 to $5,000 worth of trees a year. This is not about taking down trees, it’s about safety, Heagy said.
Beaver Dam is licensed, insured and has climbers to do the tree trimming, he said. That’s why he uses them, noting they also do good work.
Heagy said he had $16,000 budgeted this year for tree services and he budgeted the same for next year because he wants Beaver Dam to continue. A good rate is given by the tree service because “once everything is down, we clean it up.”
The cemetery is giving their wood giveaway now.
People can get vouches from Combined Community Services, which began Nov. 16. Then, the cemetery will give the person a truckload of wood a month to heat their homes.
Heagy said the cemetery hasn’t given away that many loads yet so far. Some people wait until it gets cold.
Heagy said he gives away 30 to 60 loads a year. Heagy asked if the board members know of anyone who needs wood to let him know. He said the cemetery has plenty of wood and plans on splitting more.
Leaf season went really well this year. Heagy said he thought leaves would fall early this year, which they did.
With the city of Warsaw’s help with their new leaf sucker, the cemetery staff is three weeks ahead of schedule. The cemetery is prepared if snow hits.
Heagy said cemetery staff is doing spring work.
“We’re just trying to get a jump on next year,” Heagy said.
