/
Print
Services
Residents
Business
Visitors
Government
City of Knoxville
Blogs
City Blog
Busy week for Public Service...
Busy week for Public Service, Urban Forestry: Storms Fell 30 Trees, Blocking Streets
This week was a busy one for the City's Urban Forestry crews. A series of heavy storms felled about 30 large trees that blocked as many City streets - and 17 of those tree-removal emergencies happened after hours.
But the Urban Forestry professionals are quick. And they're used to scrambling.
Coming back into work from their homes at night to deal with trees blocking roads, they typically have a tree chainsawed and the road cleared within an hour.
"We have a really good crew. Sometimes, it's less than 20 minutes," Urban Forester Kasey Krouse says. "What usually takes the most time is just getting to the scene."
One of the 30 trees down and blocking City streets and alleys this week was this one in Lonsdale.
The Public Service Department staffs around the clock, and a night crew responds immediately to after-hours service calls. They assess each situation and clean up after dozens of storm-related mishaps. So far this year, Public Service has responded to 227 calls for help with emergency tree issues.
If it's the middle of the night and more manpower or expertise is required to deal with a particularly difficult nuisance, like a huge tree blocking a road, then Krouse's crew is summoned.
Sixty times so far this year, tree crews have been called in to work after hours.
"A downed tree can block people from getting in or out of their neighborhood, so we really try to get these problems resolved as fast as possible," Public Service Director Chad Weth says. "I can't say enough good things about our Public Service and Urban Forestry crews. They hustle, and they're extremely good at what they do."
Posted by
evreeland
On 07 August, 2020 at 2:43 PM
Recent Posts
Fort Sanders, Looking Sharp! Upgrades Being Done During Summer Break to Minimize Inconvenience
Business Opportunities Breakfast Helps Small Companies, Local Entrepreneurs
Augusta Quarry is Reopening Soon: Nature Lovers, Beat the Summer Sizzle!
Quick Progress on Stadium Plazas, Old City Streetscapes
Will Stadium Prompt Private Investment? Yes - It Already Has; Experts Predict Much More to Come
Nimble City Crew Fixes 1,000 Potholes in 3 Months
Mayor Kincannon: Key Riverwalk Connection is 'Critically Important'
Wide, Tree-lined Sidewalks Will Connect to Stadium - and So Will Future Greenways
Stadium Update: Concrete Poured for Plazas, First Trees Planted, Streetscapes Improvements Under Way
Crime in Knoxville is Down - and 2/3 of Residents in East Knoxville TLC Zone See Positive Change
Archives
June 2025 (3)
May 2025 (2)
March 2025 (2)
February 2025 (2)
January 2025 (5)
December 2024 (5)
November 2024 (1)
October 2024 (5)
September 2024 (1)
August 2024 (2)
Group Blogs
City Blog
KAT Blog
KPD News & Alerts
Magnolia Avenue Streetscapes Project
More...
Post Categories
City Events
City Services
Cumberland Ave.
Downtown
Government
KAT
Mayor Kincannon
Meetings
Neighborhoods
Outdoor & Recreation
Public Safety
Redevelopment
Road Work
South Waterfront
Sustainability
Content Alert Subscription
Blog Feeds
Podcast Feeds
Subscribe to Email Alerts