Tree trimmer releases video that he says backs up his point
June 6, 2011 at 4:58 am in The Hastings Star-Gazette
Mike Haege, the Hastings tree trimmer who was kicked out of the tornado zone in north Minneapolis recently, released cell phone video this week that he says backs up his story. Continue Reading
This guy needs to give it a rest. He was in the wrong. I emailed the city asking if there was more to the story because it seemed quite unfair how Mike reported it. Turns out, Mike didn’t report the whole story. He should have been kicked out – he should have been fined!
Here is the email I received from the city:
Dear Robin XXXXXX
Mayor Rybak received your email about a volunteer who received a fine during the tornado relief efforts in North Minneapolis and asked that I respond personally.
Thank you for emailing Mayor Rybak about your concerns around this issue.
While we appreciate your concerns about this situation, it is critically important that the City of Minneapolis make safety its number one priority when coordinating its volunteer efforts during tornado relief work. Minneapolis is a city that prides itself on volunteerism, and commends the work of the thousands of volunteers who are giving their time to their community following the tornado. But at the same time, it is also highly important that volunteer work is done in as safe a manner as possible to ensure it best helps the community.
As you can imagine, in the aftermath of the tornado, safety concerns were the number one priority. Police officers and firefighters were assessing the situation– block by block – to ensure that conditions were safe enough to bring in trained volunteer crews to begin light debris removal (for instance, there were live power lines on the ground in many areas). The volunteer coordination was managed by a nonprofit organization (called Urban Homeworks). This coordination was necessary to ensure the safety of volunteers.
Urban Homeworks cleared this individual/company to do debris removal and assigned him to a specific location that had been deemed safe. Each volunteer was required to stay with a crew lead. However, City inspectors who were in the area making sure that folks were in locations where it was deemed safe reported that this individual was working in an area that was not cleared for volunteers (because it was too dangerous at the time). Additionally, he was performing a job he had not been assigned.
For these two reasons, Urban Homeworks asked that this individual return to his assigned location and continue working from there, clearing light debris as he had been approved to do. One hour later, the same individual was reported performing the same activity, but in a different location that had not yet been cleared safe for volunteers. Once again out of safety concerns, he was again asked to return to his pre-approved location and continue the work he had been designated to do.
Additionally, the City of Minneapolis requires that certain construction work and tree removal services always be done by a licensed contractor. This is to ensure that the work is done properly and safely. The requirement that someone be licensed to complete these types of jobs exists whether it is a paid service or not. Because large equipment, including the boom truck this company had on site, can be dangerous if not used properly, tree contractors must be licensed in Minneapolis. This helps ensure companies are properly trained and insured to protect homeowners and the company’s employees. Because this company is not licensed in Minneapolis, the company was first warned, then later cited for operating in the city without a license. Because public safety is our top priority, the city has been diligent in making sure contractors operating with big equipment in the city are following the rules and operating safely.
The City absolutely appreciates all the hard work volunteers put into helping the folks on the north side recover. It is still our responsibility to ensure that safety remains our top priority.
Thank you again for emailing the Mayor. Please continue to do so with your ideas, suggestions, or concerns about the City of Minneapolis.
John Bulger
Minneapolis 311 – Customer Service Agent
(612) 673-3000
(612) 673-5970
John.Bulger@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
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This guy needs to give it a rest. He was in the wrong. I emailed the city asking if there was more to the story because it seemed quite unfair how Mike reported it. Turns out, Mike didn’t report the whole story. He should have been kicked out – he should have been fined!
Here is the email I received from the city –
Dear Robin XXXXX
Mayor Rybak received your email about a volunteer who received a fine during the tornado relief efforts in North Minneapolis and asked that I respond personally.
Thank you for emailing Mayor Rybak about your concerns around this issue.
While we appreciate your concerns about this situation, it is critically important that the City of Minneapolis make safety its number one priority when coordinating its volunteer efforts during tornado relief work. Minneapolis is a city that prides itself on volunteerism, and commends the work of the thousands of volunteers who are giving their time to their community following the tornado. But at the same time, it is also highly important that volunteer work is done in as safe a manner as possible to ensure it best helps the community.
As you can imagine, in the aftermath of the tornado, safety concerns were the number one priority. Police officers and firefighters were assessing the situation– block by block – to ensure that conditions were safe enough to bring in trained volunteer crews to begin light debris removal (for instance, there were live power lines on the ground in many areas). The volunteer coordination was managed by a nonprofit organization (called Urban Homeworks). This coordination was necessary to ensure the safety of volunteers.
Urban Homeworks cleared this individual/company to do debris removal and assigned him to a specific location that had been deemed safe. Each volunteer was required to stay with a crew lead. However, City inspectors who were in the area making sure that folks were in locations where it was deemed safe reported that this individual was working in an area that was not cleared for volunteers (because it was too dangerous at the time). Additionally, he was performing a job he had not been assigned.
For these two reasons, Urban Homeworks asked that this individual return to his assigned location and continue working from there, clearing light debris as he had been approved to do. One hour later, the same individual was reported performing the same activity, but in a different location that had not yet been cleared safe for volunteers. Once again out of safety concerns, he was again asked to return to his pre-approved location and continue the work he had been designated to do.
Additionally, the City of Minneapolis requires that certain construction work and tree removal services always be done by a licensed contractor. This is to ensure that the work is done properly and safely. The requirement that someone be licensed to complete these types of jobs exists whether it is a paid service or not. Because large equipment, including the boom truck this company had on site, can be dangerous if not used properly, tree contractors must be licensed in Minneapolis. This helps ensure companies are properly trained and insured to protect homeowners and the company’s employees. Because this company is not licensed in Minneapolis, the company was first warned, then later cited for operating in the city without a license. Because public safety is our top priority, the city has been diligent in making sure contractors operating with big equipment in the city are following the rules and operating safely.
The City absolutely appreciates all the hard work volunteers put into helping the folks on the north side recover. It is still our responsibility to ensure that safety remains our top priority.
Thank you again for emailing the Mayor. Please continue to do so with your ideas, suggestions, or concerns about the City of Minneapolis.
John Bulger
Minneapolis 311 – Customer Service Agent
(612) 673-3000
(612) 673-5970
John.Bulger@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Like or Dislike:
7 
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That letter reiterates the zoning gibberish (which this video plainly refutes). It also adds a new explanation to the pile, that he was doing work different from that which he was allowed to do. That makes about six different explanations now, while Haege’s description of events remains consistent.
This video was posted in response to the city’s assertion that it was a zoning issue, and not a licensing issue that caused the fine. If it’s simply a licensing issue, then the safety explanation goes out the window, since he is licensed to do this work in several cities. This is a simple matter of parochial technicalities (and bureaucratic ego) trumping honesty and common sense.
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Safety concerns my a##. This guy knew what he was doing. He did it for a living, for Pete’s sake. The city’s reasons for refusing his help were non reasons. I don’t know who the rocket scientist is who decided he was out of line. This guy was able to do more than pick up sticks, that’s why he offered his services. Shame on the city of Minneapolis,
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Sorry – but if he was working in an area that was not yet cleared for volunteers, then he was in the wrong. If he was performing a job he had not been assigned he was in the wrong. It’s commendable that he volunteered, but being a professional, he knows that rules have to be followed. You cannot just charge in to a situation like that and do what you feel is best regardless of what the authorities say. I’d chalk it up to a learning experience.
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