Foley saves $300K with new Urban Forestry Unit — how it's preventing danger in the city
FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — The City of Foley created the Urban Forestry Unit in January to trim and cut trees on city property and rights-of-way. Since then, the new unit has saved the city about $300,000 in contractor costs.
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According to a City of Foley news release, before the unit was established, many projects to remove trees on city property had to be contracted out to private contractors.
Corey Parker, who oversees the unit, said trimming trees to a height that allows larger vehicles like tractor-trailers, campers and fire trucks to navigate the road unimpeded is part of their job.
'We also take down any dead, diseased trees on the right of way that can be a potential hazard,' he said.
As Parker was talking, his crew was taking down a tree on West Orange Avenue.
'The tree could fall on the (nearby) house,' he said. 'We've already had one of these limbs fall and hit a car that was parked here.'
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Parker said Foley is not responsible for cutting trees on private lots, but the tree in question was on the city right of way for West Orange Avenue, making it public property.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Washington Post
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'But Christmas magic is real, and I'm hoping it's present for my family and the whole neighborhood this weekend.' On Saturday, Santa didn't arrive in a sleigh. The big man in red got driven to Kasey's house in an antique engine from the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters from several departments across the state — from Bethesda Fire to Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company — rode through the neighborhood like they do in December for the annual Christmas parade. But first, they delivered cards and gifts directly to Kasey. 'The volunteer fire service doesn't do anything small,' said Lt. Megan Quinn of the Glen Echo Fire Department. 'They don't do anything halfway.' Neither does the Zachmanns' neighborhood. Houses were draped with banners that read 'Merry Christmas, Kasey!' One house on Jamestown Road spelled out Kasey's initials, KVZ, in lights. Neighbors and local businesses propped up decorations and hung homemade ornaments in the Zachmanns' front yard. 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