In a unanimous vote, Wyoming City Commissioners approved a resolution last week to establish a Wyoming Tree Commission, which is designed to promote healthy tree coverage and variation of tree species in the City of Wyoming. The move was prompted by a group of Wyoming citizens called The Tree Amigos, who have been working with City leadership since February to establish a platform to become a Tree City USA.
By establishing an official city tree commission, Wyoming has taken the first step to becoming a Tree City USA.
Members of the Wyoming Tree Commission include:
• Bill Brown, resident arborist
• Greg Bryan, former city commissioner who spearheaded The Tree Amigos’ efforts
• Lauren Davis, resident arborist
• Lee Groth, Godwin Neighborhood Watch
• Lenny Guiliano, Oriole Park Neighborhood Watch
• Pam Jurick, Grenadier neighborhood resident
• Stelle Slootmaker, Oriole Park neighborhood resident
“We are thrilled with the council’s unanimous vote,” Slootmaker said. “The designation as Tree City USA will help promote Wyoming as being a great place to live and work.”
Established in 1976, Tree City USA is a nationwide program that provides a framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees. There are currently more than 3,400 communities in the country that have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA, including 123 in Michigan. To become a Tree City USA, municipalities must have:
• A tree care ordinance
• An Arbor Day proclamation
• A community forestry program with a $2-per-capita operating budget
• A tree board, department or citizen committee
Tree City USA is an Arbor Day Foundation program in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Slootmaker at TreeAmigosWyoming@gmail.com.
For more information, call the City of Wyoming at 616.530.7272 or visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. Follow the City on Twitter @WyomingCityHall and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming.
