Title
Tree Trimming, Removal, Stumping and Restoration Services - Proposal
History
A request for proposals was issued for tree removal, tree stumping and restoration services. In addition, proposals were requested for standard municipal parkway tree trimming services. The majority of trees that the Village will need removed will be those infested and damaged by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). There are 6,548 ash trees in the parkways throughout the Village.
The legal notice for the tree services RFP ran in the SouthtownStar Newspaper on Monday, September 10, 2012. In addition, the RFP was available online. In return, four proposals were received (Proposal Summary Sheet attached).
The primary purpose of this RFP was for tree removal, stumping and restoration services in preparation for dealing with the Village’s EAB infestation. When the inventory was conducted in early 2011, there were less than 100 trees rated as poor or dying. Since that initial inventory, through field observation and resident concerns, the number has risen significantly where now it is closer to 250-300 ash trees in poor-to-dying condition. Of these, in-house arborist staff evaluates each concern and removes any ash trees that may pose an immediate threat. Since the inventory, we now conservatively estimate that we still have approximately 3,700 trees that are in fair condition and roughly 2,000 to 2,300 that are still in a relatively healthy state. A follow-up inventory will be conducted to obtain current conditions and identify areas of immediate concern.
The vendors provided tree removal proposals and submitted pricing based upon tree diameter ranges and the quantity and diameters of the Village’s parkway ash trees. GroundsKeeper Landscape Care, L.L.C. of Orland Park, Illinois, submitted the low proposal for the work outlined. The Public Works Department has had good experiences working with this company in the past. The Parks and Building Maintenance Department will also be able to take advantage of these services for trees in medians, near ponds and in our parks. As trees are removed, they will be replaced with new trees via our contract with Mid America Tree and Landscape, Inc. of Mokena, IL.
The secondary purpose of the RFP was to solicit pricing for residential parkway tree trimming. We requested pricing for trimming trees at the request of the Village as well as pricing for trimming at the request of residents. GroundsKeeper provided the lowest pricing for the municipal tree trimming program and very competitive pricing for the resident parkway trimming program. The purpose of the resident parkway trimming program is to provide residents with a set price if they want their parkway tree trimmed but it is not an emergency or due to storm damage. This is a voluntary program, residents will still have the option to solicit competitive price quotes at their discretion.
On October 15, 2012, this item was reviewed and approved by the Public Works and Engineering Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
Financial Impact
There are sufficient funds remaining in the Capital Improvement Fund (054-0000-443500) in the amount of $17,215 for tree maintenance services for the remainder of FY2012.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve authorizing the Village Manager to enter into a three-year agreement with GroundsKeeper Landscape Care, L.L.C. of Orland Park, Illinois, to provide tree trimming, removal, stumping and restoration services for an amount not to exceed the Board approved annual budget amount.