| Several residents appeared before the Kalamazoo County Road Commission on May 5 to challenge a tree removal project along U Avenue near Vicksburg, where trees have been marked with yellow X’s for removal under a federal Safe Roads grant. Residents argued that the scope goes beyond what safety requires, and that the trees serve multiple functions: slowing traffic near S-curves, reducing wind exposure in winter, and defining the scenic character of the road. They proposed alternatives including additional signage, rumble strips, and targeted removal of trees already damaged by crashes rather than healthy trees set well back from the road. The commission did not reverse course at the meeting, but agreed to schedule a meeting with the engineer manager to discuss the concerns further. |
| Plus: The commission also approved easements on two Road Commission–owned parcels on Bunker Hill Drive and Saybrook Drive in Oshtemo Township’s Westport neighborhood, clearing the final step for construction of a new sanitary sewer system. |
