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  • Community members met at the Milledgeville Housing Authority Wednesday to discuss the site improvement plan for Graham, Habersham and Wray Homes public housing tracts that has called for the removal of an estimated 190 trees. Jonathan Jackson

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April 22, 2010

Group hopes housing authority will halt project

Jonathan Jackson The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE — Approximately 25 people met at the Milledgeville Housing Authority office late Wednesday morning to ask questions about the authority’s site improvement plan that has concerned residents and other community members alike.

A group led by Debbie Harshbarger, Audie Wilson, Diane Lucette and Alice Tenold posed questions to housing authority board members, the authority director and a representative from the architectural firm carrying out the plan.

Harshbarger moderated the meeting and, along with other members of the group, asked questions about the removal of large shade trees throughout the properties managed and maintained by the Milledgeville Housing Authority at three public housing sites throughout the city.

Last year, the Milledgeville Housing Authority received $689,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds were used to improve landscaping on the grounds of the units in the housing authority partly because of safety issues, according to executive director Anitra Harden.

The group has asked the Milledgeville Housing Authority to halt the tree cutting and revisit the project while taking input from the community.

Harshbarger’s group met Monday at Wray Homes where extensive tree cutting has already taken place leaving exposed stumps and roots. According to the project’s plan, the roots will be graded and the ground will be sodded. Trees will be planted to replace the shady oaks that are set to be removed, but the group opposing the improvement plan takes issue with the number and selection of trees slated for removal as well as the trees selected to replace the removed oaks.

Members of the group asked the panel at the listening meeting today at the housing authority who chose the trees to be selected. Mike Johnson, with SRJ Architecture firm who is handling the project, said that the group did not consult with a landscape architect but instead relied on a tree removal company’s assessment of the trees that should be removed, which he estimated at 190.

Johnson said the firm used advice from a University of Georgia extension agent from the Tifton area to name trees that will replace the oaks, including Redbuds, Dogwoods and Crape Myrtles. The group takes exception to the trees as well as the time when they will likely be planted. The trees that will be planted are not shade trees and will face the hot days of summer just after being planted.

Citing a decrease in energy efficiency in the coming summer months due to the loss of shade trees, the group implored the authority to stop cutting down the trees and to take a closer look at the project.

“This is a listening session,” board member Robert Binion told the group. “A decision to suspend is up to the board. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m.”

Harshbarger implored the group to call an emergency meeting under the auspices of the Georgia code section 50-14 that allows for emergency meetings to be called to address pressing issues.

“I would urge you all to immediately address this,” Harshbarger said.

Meanwhile, although tree cutting took a back seat to stump grinding Wednesday, the project continues.

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