The HCA Board of Directors recently engaged a certified Independent Consulting Arborist with more than 40 years of experience who assessed and documented the failure likelihood, target impact, and risk rating of all high risk trees he identified first hand during site walks throughout 18 acres of Hickory Cluster Common Area, including several trees reported by Members. Trees on private property were not included and are the responsibility of individual homeowner Members. The Arborist marked with rings of yellow/green tape those trees that require the most immediate deadwood trimming, structural support cabling, or complete removal. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE MARKING TAPE. It will be used by bidding contractors to identify, estimate, and perform work on those trees during January-March 2017 to take advantage of Winter reduced pricing. Once the Arborist completes his report, the Board of Directors will review the recommendations, approve work subject to available funding, and obtain RA DRB approvals as necessary. UPDATES ... The
Independent Consulting Arborist assessment report,
assessment summary, and
assessment map, including Group 1 trees approved and funded for action by HCA Directors on December 21, 2016, are now available for public reference. RA DRB approved removal of 16 live Group 1 trees on March 7, 2017, in addition to 14 dead or invasive species trees that did not require RA approval. HCA also approved and funded immediate trimming of eight additional Group 2 trees on March 15, 2017. Work on 17 Group 3 trees is pending HCA cable or remove decisions and funding for late 2017 or early 2018 action. Contact project lead HCA Secretary Michael Poss for more information.
