As Milwaukee area residents were once again reminded this week: storms can cause major tree damage in mere minutes.
After powerful winds whipped through southeastern Wisconsin Aug. 18 during a storm that lasted less than an hour at its most severe, roads were blocked, buildings and vehicles were damaged and large branches littered sidewalks and streets.
But falling trees don't obey the rules of property lines. So whose responsibility is it to manage clean-up?
Here's what you should know as a City of Milwaukee resident.
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The City of Milwaukee covers the cost and labor of taking care of any tree or tree parts that fall on city property, whether the tree fell from public property, like a park or median, or if it came from a private business or residence, said Tiffany Shepherd, spokesperson for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works.
However, Shepherd said, the city will not handle any part of a tree from private property that lands on private property.
"If a tree from private property falls in right of way, the city will clear the portion of that tree that is on the street or sidewalk," Shepherd said in an email. "We want to make sure public area is safe and cleared. The property owner would be responsible for whatever part of that tree has fallen or still remains on their property."
Currently, the city does not bill property owners for cleanup if their tree falls onto city property, Shepherd said.
The city also holds responsibility for any tree that falls from city property onto private property – whether that property is a yard, building or vehicle, Shepherd said.
If a person's vehicle is damaged by a city tree, they can file a claim with the city attorney's office, she said.
The City of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works has its own Forestry Services division with staff that utilize equipment to move heavy debris, chop up trees and transport wood.
The wood gets used for different things. Sometimes, wood from fallen trees and foliage can be made into mulch, which is available to the public for free at City of Milwaukee Drop Off Centers, while supplies last. The Drop Off Centers, which are primarily used as locations for Milwaukee residents to safely dispose of and recycle types of waste that don't go into standard dumpsters and recycling bins, are located at 6660 Industrial Road on the city's north side, and 3879 W. Lincoln Ave. on the south side.
Milwaukee's Forestry Services does much more than just get rid of fallen trees, however. According to the city's website, Forestry Services "is responsible for the design, planning, planting, and management of approximately 190,000 street trees, boulevards, landscapes, green spaces, and beautification projects within the City of Milwaukee."
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As with any other complaint to the city of Milwaukee, like for potholes or garbage pickup, anyone looking to report a fallen tree or other storm damage can call 414-286-CITY (2489). They can also use the MKE Mobile Action app or visit milwaukee.gov/click4action.
As of Aug. 20, two days after the storm, the Department of Public Works had received 820 calls for service related to storm damage, and were continuing to work on cleanup, Shepherd said.
"In some cases, whole trees were uprooted," she said. "That kind of work can take a few hours in and of itself."
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is responsible for cleaning up a fallen tree in Milwaukee?