Altamont Again Celebrates Tree City USA Status

The City of Altamont has been named a Tree City USA. Altamont Mayor Larry E. Taylor said, “This marks the 29^th time that the city has received this national recognition."

The mayor added, “Tree City USA recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation is a symbol of how important our community trees are to us. The National Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit education organization that helps people plant and care for trees. Communities receive Tree City USA designation upon recommendations by state foresters, who co-sponsor the program along with the USDA Forest Service. To become a Tree City USA, a community must have a tree care ordinance, a legal tree governing body, a comprehensive urban forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance."

Different from past years, 2015 will see the Altamont City Tree Board, the Altamont Garden Club, the Altamont High School FFA Chapter, the Altamont Lions Club and the Altamont school children from the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grade classes combining their efforts to participate in renewing our urban forest.

The Tree City USA flag and other recognition materials were presented to Bill Jones, the Altamont Street and Alley Commissioner as well as Public Improvements and Jason Williams, the Altamont Park and Cemetery Commissioner on Friday morning. The planting took place at 4 South Fourth Street, the corner of Division and 4^th street or across from the Frog Pond Nursery School at the identical time observing the Arbor Day planting. The focus this year was planting on rights of way, under or aside of electrical transmission lines.

The 2015 Altamont Tree Committee appointed in accordance with the City Ordinance No. 191 has attempted to keep this ordinance in the guidelines of its intentions and fulfillments to the residences of the City of Altamont. Those guidelines are outlined in this ordinance and should be the nature of the Altamont City Council to abide with the guidelines of such an ordinance.  The Altamont Tree Board members include Anthony Arend, Terry Woodward, Jerry Hoffmeister, Rick Seagle, Lynn A. Kull and City Clerk Sarah Stephen.