Deering’s Tree Service has been chosen by the Garfield Township Board to remove hundreds of dead and dying trees at the Grand Traverse Commons. Deering’s bid of $29,500 for complete removal of the ailing trees was accepted at the township's board meeting earlier this month. Two other bidders had submitted proposals to remove roughly half the trees for about the same price.

Planning Director Rob Larrea explained that Deering has specialized equipment that will allow them to remove and sell a large amount of the downed trees. That also will clean up the area and not allow unsightly piles of downed wood.

The tree removal follows a hazardous tree inventory report prepared by Schillinger Forestry that will guide the process, which is expected to take two or more years. Schillinger inspected trees on 240 acres of public property north and west of the historic Barns Park. It was determined that 383 trees need to be removed and 50 others need to be pruned. Among the trees slated for removal are white oak, red and white maples, basswood, ash, willow, beech, cottonwood, hemlock, cedar, walnut, box elder, apple, red oak, white ash and aspen.

Garfield Township has budgeted $30,000 for the project from its park fund.