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NEIGHBORHOOD MAINTENANCE

From resident Chris Veach: Do Not Prune Neighborhood Oak Trees from March 1st though July 31st. Last June a neighborhood Pin Oak tree was diagnosed with Oak Wilt Disease which is an aggressive fatal fungal diseases of Oak trees. It can be spread both underground by root grafts and above ground by beetles infected with fungal spores landing on fresh tree wounds. Our neighborhood street trees are all Pin Oak trees, so spread of this disease would alter the character of our neighborhood. If Oak trees must be pruned during these times, wounds should immediately be sprayed with black spray paint, tree paint, or wound dressing to seal the wound. More detailed information can be obtained at the US Forest Service website under Oak Wilt Disease or http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/detail.cfm?id=921
Pin Oaks can be identified by their leaves which have pointy highly scalloped leaf lobes that are retained on the trees through winter. Characteristically, their lower branches hang downward. Acorns are normally produced, but due to the Easter Freeze of 2007, they were not present this year.

Tree Trimming

The trees in Bent Oaks are one of the neighborhood's greatest assets, giving the area an established character. Trees that are poorly cared for are unattractive and can present a potential hazard to both motor vehicles and pedestrians.

The vast majority of trees that line the streets of Bent Oaks are Pin Oaks, having lower branches that grow downward. In order to comply with Code of the city of Liberty, and to maintain an attractive appearance, Pin Oaks need to be trimmed each year to remove obstructive lower limbs.

City of Liberty Municipal Code:
Chapter 25, Article I, Section 25-2: Trimming trees in and along streets and sidewalks. Every owner, agent or occupant of any house, building lot or premises in the city, shall keep the shade and ornamental trees, bushes, flowers and vegetation, in the street, avenue or sidewalk in front and alongside of such house, building, lot or premises trimmed so that the branches shall not be lower than twelve (12) feet from the surface of such street, avenue or sidewalk nor extend more than one-fourth ( 1/4) of the distance from the base of such tree over or across such street, avenue or sidewalk.

- Also -

Chapter 28A, Section 28A-6: Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within the city shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight (8) feet above the surface of sidewalk. A clearance of twelve (12) feet must be maintained over streets and alleys. Property owners are responsible for trees on their own property. The city shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a streetlight, interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign or poses a threat to public health, safety or general welfare.

Click on the below link to refer to the Code of the City of Liberty, Missouri for additional information. Use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

Code of the City of Liberty, Missouri

NOTE: Last year, the Homes Association was notified by the city of Liberty that many trees in Bent Oaks were not in compliance with the City Code, and were causing damage to snow removal equipment and postal trucks. At the next annual meeting, members voted to notify owners they must trim their trees, or the Association will have the trees trimmed, and assess the homeowner the charges, plus interest.