Owner is cited for tree removal

By William Kibler, bkibler@altoonamirror.com
Altoona officials are taking a property owner to task for violating the city’s street tree ordinance adopted in October.

Police are mailing a citation against Wilson Saguban of Union Avenue across from Tuckahoe Park for felling two curbside Norway maples without a permit.

“I made a mistake,” Saguban said from one of two corner grocery stores he runs in Altoona. “I apologize to the city.”

He faces a fine of $400 to $600 and an order to replant, Sgt. Frank Shields said.

Saguban hired a contractor to take down the trees because one was leaning dangerously toward his house after being hit by a vehicle and the other had a large rotten limb, said Saguban and his wife, Joy.

He didn’t realize curbside trees are public property, Saguban said, adding that he’s willing to replace the two that were taken down.

Had Saguban applied for the required permit, the Shade Tree Commission would have sent an expert to determine what he could do, Shields said.

A city-licensed arborist would have known the permit was required, Shields said.

Mayor Wayne Hippo said the ordinance is a blight-fighting tool. It applies to designated gateway corridors and prohibits cutting, pruning, spraying and planting of trees in the public right of way without a permit.

‘‘All of this is about improving the appearance of the city,’’ Hippo said. ‘‘Here is one of the prime entryways in one of the prime neighborhoods.’’

Homeowners who get a permit can do their own work according to accepted standards, but those who work on trees commercially need a license, Shields said.

‘‘I think it’s terrible [the homeowner] cut those trees down,’’ said City Manager Joe Weakland, adding that the mayor alerted authorities about it.

One stump is about 3 feet in diameter at its widest; the other, about 2¢ feet.

The Sagubans plan to argue their case before a magisterial district judge.

City Council proposed and adopted the ordinance mainly to protect the city investment, after hearing reports that at least one property owner had removed curbside trees the city had planted.

The Sagubans came to Altoona from out of the area but haven’t yet moved into the house, which they’re renovating, next-door neighbor Judy Rice said. The house sat empty since before last winter and has deteriorated, she said.

‘‘These are nice people who really want to do what’s best,’’ she said. ‘‘It bothers me how they’re being greeted.’’

The city isn’t trying to persecute anyone but simply wants compliance to prevent butchering of public trees, Shields said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.