More than 60 elm trees to be cut down in Detroit Lakes – Detroit Lakes Tribune
DETROIT LAKES – The Detroit Lakes City Council approved the removal of diseased elm trees within city limits during its monthly meeting on Monday, August 12.
During the last council meeting in July, the council learned that 67 trees on 34 streets were identified as potentially diseased. The property owners were contacted, informed of the cost of tree removal and invited to a public hearing on the issue, scheduled for the August meeting.
At the August meeting, the number of trees to be removed was reduced to 65 trees on 32 streets.
Mary Lee, who lives on Kenneth Street, owns a property with a 27-inch elm tree that was identified as diseased. She said she received a letter from the city listing the cost of removing the tree as $1,050.
“We are pensioners on a fixed income,” she explained, then asked if the costs would be tax deductible so they could be paid over a period of time.
Heidi Tumberg, Detroit Lakes’ finance officer, explained that cost estimates for removing diseased trees that cost more than $250 have the option of spreading the cost over a five-year period.
“So they (the fees) will be added to your property taxes if they are not paid by November 15,” Tumberg explained, adding that interest will accrue.
Tumberg further said that the city offers a special tax deferral program for individuals who meet the requirements.
According to the city’s website, the City Council passed a resolution in 2022 to revise the forbearance option. The option provides qualified individuals with the opportunity to have special levies placed on the homestead to mitigate potential financial hardship.
The program offered by the city is open to seniors age 65 and older and/or totally and permanently disabled homeowners, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions are:
• Possession of the property or a contract purchaser with unconditional title and qualified title may be established by a deed or a deed contract.
• The property must be the applicant’s main residence and must be listed on the local authority’s property tax roll as the applicant’s main residence.
• Net income must not exceed the HUD low income limit (80%) for Becker County in the previous year from the assessment levy.
If approved, no interest would be charged on the deferred tax. The deferred tax would be payable if the property was sold, the owner died, or the property lost its status as a home.
Deferment forms can be picked up at City Hall, 1025 Roosevelt Ave. After submitting the form, the applicant will be charged a $10 administration fee.