WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, Texas (KTRK) — Eight pecan bushes and a heavy alternative invoice are on the heart of a simmering dispute between the Metropolis of West College Place and a household who has lived there for many years.
“This drawback, I need it to go away,” Otto Michalec stated, his voice rising as he punched a ticket issued by the Metropolis of West U.
Otto, his sister, and a niece all stay within the small bungalow that his father, Jim, bought 60 years in the past on the nook of Rice Boulevard and School. Round 40 years in the past, Otto says his father planted 7 pecan bushes on their property, and one pecan tree on some adjoining metropolis property.
In March 2025, James Michalec, now 91, employed Rangel Tree Service to trim the bushes, so much. Photographs present that all the cover of all of the bushes was eliminated. West U officers shortly stated the topping of the pecan bushes violated their metropolis ordinance.
“The Metropolis’s ordinance permits for pruning of 25% of the cover with no allow, however they pruned 100% and left sticks and stumps,” West College Place Metropolis Supervisor David Seashore stated.
Not solely did Rangel Tree Service fail to acquire a required allow, however additionally they accomplished a kind and did not observe by. ABC13 obtained paperwork exhibiting Rangel’s involvement.
Seashore stated following the town ordinance, West U’s city forester calculated the fee to exchange eight pecan bushes and despatched the Michalec household the invoice. Per metropolis ordinance, the household can both change the broken bushes or contribute to West U’s metropolis tree fund. The town calculated a $31,000 invoice.
Otto says he received the invoice despatched to his father’s property after James handed away in June, and is flabbergasted.
“I might say the rules are in all probability too stiff. The actual fact is that my dad planted these bushes, that is what he needed minimize. They usually did not complain then, so why are they complaining now, for $31,000, that is ridiculous.”
David Seashore says they cannot implement the codes arbitrarily.
“The town has adopted codes that applies to everybody,” he says. “We’ve got had different areas the place bushes have been broken and wanted to get replaced.”
However Otto says his household does not have the cash, and in his eyes, the bushes look advantageous. There’s new development, and he is heard no complaints from his neighbors.
“Why do I’ve to pay? Why do not they pay for it? The town, the town of West U, is among the richest in the entire United States, and that is a truth,” Otto stated.
Seashore says one factor the household can do is contact Rangel Tree Service and ask them to come back again and repair the issue. West U itself has tried to contact the tree firm, to no avail. It has since issued a quotation to the corporate, which is now required to look in municipal courtroom.
ABC13 contacted the Rangel Tree Service firm. An individual who answered the telephone stated they don’t have any data of servicing that household dwelling. ABC13 then despatched them paperwork exhibiting they did work on the property, however the firm has since not returned our calls.
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