The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County has awarded contracts for tree removal under its federally funded Safe Streets for All project.
At its November 3 meeting, the Board of County Road Commissioners approved a bid for the project’s tree services. The work is divided into six sections. K&H Tree Service, LLC was awarded Section 1, and Alpine Tree Service, LLC was awarded Sections 2 through 6. Both were the lowest responsive bidders meeting specifications for the sections they received.
Managing Director Travis Bartholomew told the board that staff reviewed both contractors’ qualifications, bonding capability, available resources and proposed work plans before recommending the awards. He said each section covers roughly 750 to 1,153 trees, and that dividing the work let contractors bid on the sections that fit their resources. The bid documents were downloaded 42 times, and the bid came in under the engineer’s estimate. Bartholomew said the difference could be applied to other safety work within the project.
Federal requirements for contractors
Because the project is federally funded, the contracts include requirements beyond a typical tree service contract. Contractors must follow federal prevailing wage rates, submit certified payroll reporting, provide performance bonding, and handle traffic control in line with Michigan Department of Transportation requirements. The contracts also cover stump grinding, chemical treatment and restoration of disturbed areas.
To protect endangered bats, tree removal is limited to two seasonal windows: October 16, 2026 through April 14, 2027, and October 16, 2027 through April 14, 2028. Staff said the dates are an environmental requirement and do not shift with the weather.
What property owners can expect
Staff said affected property owners receive letters about trees on their property, and that staff are meeting some owners on site to verify trees. The Road Commission is updating its website with project information. In response to commissioners’ questions, staff said they will try to make next season’s tree information available to property owners earlier and are working on a community engagement plan that includes meetings before work begins.
Road Commission staff will inspect the work in the field. Staff said they currently have two engineers assigned and plan to seek additional help.
Property owners who want to keep wood from valuable trees, such as walnut, were advised that it may be best to have the tree removed themselves before crews arrive, so they can control the cuts and lengths. Staff said they will work with contractors to accommodate requests where possible.
The board approved the contract awards on a motion. The full November 3 meeting is available to watch on Public Media Network.
