Flint City Council approves $3.2 million for tree removal, sidewalk repairs

Flint, MI— Flint City Council approved three separate resolutions to enter into contracts worth $3.225 million for tree removals and sidewalk replacements damaged by tree roots throughout the city on Monday, April 8, 2024.

The three resolutions include:

• Entering into a $862,500 contract with Wonsey Tree Service for the removal of trees.
• Entering into a $862,500 contract with J & M Tree Service for the removal of trees.
• Entering into a $1.5 million contract with KMI Road Maintenance for the replacement of sidewalks impacted by trees. 

According to the resolution proposal, five proposals were received for tree removal, and a committee decided to split the bid between the two lowest responsive bidders. Four bids were received for sidewalk replacement, and KMI Road Maintenance was the lowest responsive bidder. 

The resolution language states that the funding will be distributed equally between the nine wards and focused on the worst sidewalks. Emphasis will be on “walkability” and where replacing sidewalks will have the “greatest impact.”

Council voted 6-0 to approve the resolutions. Councilpersons Leon El-Alamin and Jerri Winfrey-Carter were not present for the vote. Councilwoman Tonya Burns is currently serving a 30-day suspension.

An assessment of all of Flint’s sidewalks is currently underway, which will determine where the work needs to be completed.

During a Finance Committee meeting on April 3, 2024, Transportation Director Rodney McGaha told council that priority would be given to those areas impacted near schools, hospitals, and churches. 

“We’ll never have enough for (all of the) sidewalk repairs,” McGaha said. “That’s how bad our sidewalks are.” 

He said the issue is that trees were often planted before the sidewalks were poured or planted too close to the sidewalks. 

McGaha estimated it could take as much as $100 million to repair all of the damaged sidewalks throughout the city. 

At a July 10, 2023, council meeting, the council approved a $111,000 contract with Spalding DeDecker to complete sidewalk assessments.

In October 2022, council allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover the project’s cost.