If a tree falls in Toledo
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 7:52PM 
Once upon a time back in July 2007, my neighborhood was part of Toledo's Model Block Program. My understanding is that the program was created to focus all of the city's different departments in getting selected neighborhoods cleaned up and repaired at one time. Through this process, two trees in front of my home were cut down. These were dying trees and I was constantly concerned they might lose a limb on my car roof or home some stormy night. One day I came home to two stumps. No trees, whole or in part, were to be seen. I was kind of excited, thinking that in another day or two the stumps would be removed and perhaps new saplings would be put in place of old dead ones. Well, another day or two turned into weeks and weeks into months. I knew I should call the city to find out when they were going to finish the job but it really wasn't very high on my priority list.
Yesterday, I finally called. After two and a half years, I figured I had been patient enough. If they weren't going to do it, I would have to hire someone. I contacted the Forestry Division and a very kind woman took down all of my information. She told me that she would check into it. I scribbled down her name, the date and time when I called, planning on calling back in about a week to see where things stood.
I got a call back today not from the nice young woman I spoke with but from Denny Garvin, the Commisioner for Parks and Forestry for the City of Toledo. He said, "We'll get that out in the next couple of weeks." Removal of stumps hasn't been a priority due to a backlog of standing dead trees and he apologized for the inconvenience. He thanked me for letting him know and gave me his direct line. When I heard this message, I was a little shocked. I honestly thought that I would be put on a list and eventually the bureaucracy of the city would get to it. Hearing the phrase "the next couple of weeks" was a very pleasant surpise. Honestly though, I didn't really get my hopes up.
I was even more suprised when I got home today. There are temporary no parking signs up in front of my house. A couple of weeks, seems to have turned in to a couple of hours. Score big points for the City of Toledo in my book. With all of the doom and gloom about how my city is in such a financial deficit, I never expected service like this. Thank you Mr. Garvin and your great team. Now, what kind of trees should I plant in these soon to be reclaimed spots? The choices that immediately come to mind are plum, chestnut or filbert trees.
Reader Comments (1)
I first met Denny Garvin when he was hired as an intern for the Parks and Recreation Department. I give him a lot of credit for his hard work in his earllier career establishing and operating the Ottawa Park Nature Center. He is a hard working, dedicated public employee. His service to the citizens of Toledo is commendable.