Ethan Fowler

• Administer the Metropolitan Tree Ordinances and establish related policies and procedures.
• Provide expertise and recommendations to contractors, architects, and the public for reviewing long-range plans and new projects for compliance with guidelines and standards.
• Enforce ordinances and industry regulations concerning tree maintenance.
• Provide community services in the interests of the Metro Tree Ordinance.
• Ensure that plants and trees are well-kept and treated in accordance with regulations.

• Handle public property and street right of way tree issues
• Coordinates private contracted tree work on city property including budgeting and bidding process
• Inspect existing trees for health/safety concerns using tree risk assessment techniques
• Make decisions on public tree work (removal, trimming, etc)
• Work with Traffic Engineering on tree/line of sight issues
• Produce and deliver appropriate tree work orders to Street Maintenance
• Supervise and coordinate with tree crew on all tree planting projects
• Supervise in-house tree project implementation, working with Street Maintenance and Parks and Rec
• Produce tree maintenance schedules
• Assist with watering, pruning, etc. to help cover work load
• Represents Urban Forestry Division at Architecture Review Board and Board of Adjustment meetings

Development

• Review development plans for compliance with Landscape Ordinance requirements in Development Code.
• Approve landscape plans for permitting.
• Inspect and approve landscape installations for issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.
• Make onsite decisions on landscape changes based on intent of Landscape Ordinance.
• Work with landscape contractors to best meet intent of Landscape Ordinance.
• Handled tree work permitting and enforcement of tree work ordinances on private property

Contracted Tree Projects

• Supervise contracted tree installation projects for City.
• Coordinate with contracted landscape companies on tree delivery, installation, etc.
• Maintain oversight of projects so that projects comply with Urban Forestry criteria for installation.
• Make onsite decisions on changes due to unforeseen circumstances so that project maintains its purpose.

Tree Care

• First year summer watering to insure establishment of new trees.
• Structural pruning of trees, maintaining sidewalk and street clearances as trees mature.
• Corrective pruning of trees, maintaining tree form.
• Application of fertilizer and other tree care products to ensure tree health.

• Conducted storm water inspection in Auburn/Opelika area.
• Wrote reports which detailed each BMP properly in use or malfunction.
• Gained knowledge of both natural resource protection techniques and construction planning.
• Prepared construction best management practice plan.
• Informed construction company of proper techniques they could implement to protect water they may be having impact on.
• Assisted with wetland delineations around Auburn area which consisted of determining if area meets criteria to be a wetland based on Army Corps of Engineers manual.
• Flagged boundary of wetland and stream segments then collected as data points for future use in map making for clients.