Tree City U.S.A?

When you drive north across the Long Bridge, one of the first signs you see on the right is Sandpoint, Tree City U.S.A. What does this actually mean? Mayor Ray Miller has his own definition. He interpreted this as meaning he has the authority to cut down mature trees at his own will, as he demonstrated with the Farmin-Stidwell sidewalk project on Madison Street.

As residents of the area, we were ordered by the mayor to remove two grand firs that encroached on city property at our expense. After researching ordinances, we discovered the City Council is to decide which trees be removed after discussing with the city arborist. Our trees' fate was to be decided on Aug. 15. On Aug. 13, the mayor instructed Avista to remove the trees anyway. To make matters worse, the school grant issued for the Madison Street section of the sidewalk was never received by the city. The result? A partially-completed project with a 2-foot-deep unmarked trench at the end of the primary school crosswalk on the first day of school, not to mention an eyesore for neighborhood residents.

Is this the kind of leadership Sandpoint deserves? Before you vote, I encourage you to drive south on Madison from the school and see for yourself what the mayor does with school grants.

GARY BAUGHN

Sandpoint