The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners voted down a resolution November 4 asking the Road Commission to expand public engagement on tree removal.
The resolution, brought by Board Chair Jen Strebs, responded to public concern over tree clearing planned under the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County’s Safe Streets and Roads for All safety grant. As read at the meeting, it cited a $25 million grant, a May 2026 Road Commission estimate of about 8,000 trees for removal that was later reportedly reduced to about 4,000, and at least 2,212 petition signatures from residents.
What the resolution asked
The resolution was a request, not a directive, since the Road Commission acts under its own authority. It asked the Road Commission to:
- give affected property owners and townships plain-language notice at least 60 days before final authorization and marking of healthy trees for removal;
- hold corridor-level public meetings and publish maps, schedules and decision criteria;
- create a standing community advisory panel of residents, township representatives and experts;
- publish a parcel-by-parcel or corridor-level tree inventory with the reason for each removal;
- adopt a replacement and maintenance plan and report to the county board twice a year; and
- present a written engagement and vegetation management plan within 90 days.
A final clause said that if the Road Commission did not pursue meaningful engagement, the county board would take up public input within 90 days on how the Road Commission should be seated for future terms. Chair Strebs said that language did not propose moving to elected commissioners, but could cover changes such as appointment qualifications. Road commissioners are currently appointed by the county board.
Board discussion
Several commissioners said they supported more community engagement but not the seating language. Vice Chair Taylor said he agreed with the spirit of the resolution and would support asking the Road Commission for a plan within 90 days without a resolution. He said he opposed an elected road commission. Commissioner Gisler also said he opposed any path toward electing road commissioners and praised the Road Commission’s work on county roads. Vice Chair Pro Tem Heppler said township supervisors he had heard from want to keep the current appointed system.
Chair Strebs said the resolution was meant to formalize a request for better engagement, and noted the Road Commission had received a tree-scoring tool from a community group earlier in the discussion.
Public comment
About two dozen residents spoke across two comment periods. Most urged the board to approve the resolution, citing concerns about the number of healthy trees, notice to property owners, and the lack of a published tree list. Some suggested alternatives such as more rumble strips or removing only dead and dying trees. A township supervisor said his township has had a good working relationship with the Road Commission, and another speaker said the trees along some roads create hazards.
Road Commission Chair Dave Pawloski asked the board to hear from all 15 townships the commission serves before acting. He said the commission lowered its planned clearing distance after public feedback, from 33 feet to 28 feet from the center line, and less on higher-speed roads. He also said the commission is working with the bike community on rumble strips and has identified historic parcels where trees will not be cut. He said the commission believes the program will reduce deaths and serious injuries. After the vote, several speakers asked the board to bring back a revised resolution without the seating language.
The meeting is available to watch on Public Media Network.
