Assembly adopts $300 fine for illegal tree cutting

The borough assembly on Jan. 9 unanimously adopted an ordinance to institute a $300 fine for illegally cutting down trees on borough land.

No one from the public spoke on the ordinance at the public hearing held before the assembly vote.

In addition to the ordinance setting the amount of the fine, the assembly also unanimously approved an ordinance adding trespass to the borough code, which prohibits “cutting down, injury or removal of trees or timber from borough property without written permission.”

Borough officials drafted the ordinances to counter people driving out the Spur Road and illegally cutting down trees on borough land and hauling away the logs, likely for firewood, said Wrangell Police Chief Tom Radke earlier this month.

In some cases, the “loggers” have damaged drainage ditches, the highway surface and guardrail, the chief said.

“It’s been going on for a while,” Radke said.

The trespass addition to municipal law also applies to digging or taking stone, rock or earth from borough property without written permission.