Michele Smith

Main Street trees and roots inspected DAYTON-On Feb. 24 Jim Flott, President of Community Forestry Consultants, Inc., and a crew from Bartlett Tree Service prepared to excavate the sidewalk around this tree located near Banner Bank. Flott was tasked by the City of Dayton with looking to see whether the London Plane trees along Main Street were compromising sidewalks and buildings. Flott discussed his findings at an open public meeting later that evening. He said the trees are healthy and the roots are not the cause. His recommendation is to remove the grates around the trees along with concrete four feet on either side of the trees, and replace it with terra pavers, permeable flexible paving, or with landscape plants. According to Flott the sidewalks don't meet the specifications for sidewalk installation, because there is no underlayment beneath them. Ideally, five inches of concrete would be placed over a clean washed gravel layer to help with drainage and to provide a firm base. He said the most economic solution for the City of Dayton is to remediate a couple of trees each year with the above recommended solution.