Altamont's Tree City USA Ceremony Today

The City of Altamont on April 16, 2016 was named a Tree City USA, Altamont Mayor Jason D. Rippetoe said. “This marks the 31^st time that the city has received this national recognition", he added.

“Tree City USA recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation is a symbol of how important our community trees are to us. The National Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit education organization that helps people plant and care for trees. Communities receive Tree City USA designation upon recommendations by state foresters, who co-sponsor the program along with the USDA Forest Service. To become a Tree City USA, a community must have a tree care ordinance, a legal tree governing body, a comprehensive urban forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.

Different from the past years 2016 will see the Altamont City Tree Board, the Altamont Garden Club, the Altamont High School FFA Chapter, the Altamont Lions Club and the Altamont school children from different elementary school classes combining their efforts to participate in renewing our urban forest.

The Tree City USA flag and other recognition materials will be presented to Mr. Jason William the Altamont Street and Alley Commissioner as well as Public Improvements on Friday April 29 at 10:00 AM. The planting will be held at Schmidt Park as the identical time observing the Arbor Day planting. This year’s celebration will have Bryan Tillman from the Altamont High School FFA Chapter presenting the keynote address.

The 2016 Altamont Tree Committee appointed in accordance with the City Ordinance No. 191 has attempted to keep this ordinance in the guidelines of its intentions and fulfillments to the residences of the City of Altamont. Those guidelines are outlined in this ordinance and should be the nature of the Altamont City Council to abide with the guidelines of such an ordinance. The Altamont Tree Board members include Anthony Arend, Terry Woodward, Jerry Hoffmeister, Rick Seagle, Lynn A. Kull and City Clerk Sarah Stephen.