The city’s three-year effort to remove diseased trees from lawns of residents will continue.

The Dowagiac City Council voted to extend the city’s tree removal policy during their meeting Monday night. The resolution called for the program, which encourages and assists city homeowners to remove dead trees from their property, to be extended for an additional two years, with a budget of $2,000 per year.

The City Council initially adopted the policy three years ago, in response to the large batch of trees that were killed off by the emerald ash borer beetle, an invasive insect species whose larva chews through tree bark. The city would help identify tree removal firms to perform the work and offer grants to homeowners to help cover the costs, using funds from the housing incentive program.

“There was a large rush on use of those funds for the first year, and then to a lesser degree the next couple years,” said City Manager Kevin “City council put a stipulation on it that it would end in three years, and would review the program at the time.”

Anderson said that the city still has several applicants applying for assistance with the program, necessity the extension. The amount of demand for removals has declined since its implementation, however, allowing the city to modify its provisions.

“If we look at renewing it a lower rate, it will still help with large tree removal, but it will also then free up some money for other programs,” Anderson said. “I know we’ve talked about doing other things with the housing incentive program and trying to find ways to do some additional work there, and this frees up funds for that.”

The new provisions are as follows:

1. Staff will solicit proposals from qualified, insured tree removal firms with the goal of receiving a quantity discount that will be passed directly onto homeowners.

2. The eligibility requirements of the Design Review Committee for the Housing Incentive Program will be amended to allow for a grant of up to $200 per tree removal up to a maximum of three (3) trees removed per lot.

3. If the cost to the homeowner is less than $500, the homeowner will be eligible to voluntarily place a special assessment on their property for up to two (2) years. If the cost is greater than $500, the homeowner shall have the opportunity to voluntarily place a special assessment on their property for up to three (3) years. An interest rate of 2% shall be placed on the special assessments.

4. The program will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Funds are available for up to a total of 10 tree removals in the city each year.

5. The program will be in place for two (2) years ending in September 2016.

6. Staff will advertise to homeowners the availability of these discounted rates and incentives via the utility billing inserts, press releases, the City’s website and other appropriate means.

The council also voted to pay its outstanding bills and payroll, in the amount of $211,049.85.