Cullman has seen plenty of grey during the last few weeks of rainy weather, but the city’s greenery was celebrated Thursday morning when Cullman was recognized as a Tree City USA for the 32nd consecutive year.

The city’s annual Arbor Day Tree Sale kicked off Thursday morning at the North Alabama Agriplex, with a steady stream of local residents who were looking to plant their own trees, and Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs was later joined by Cullman City Arborist Darrell Johns and representatives from the Alabama Forestry Commission at City Hall to receive the city’s recognition of being a Tree City USA.

The city received a new flag to fly in front of City Hall and new decals to go on city signs to recognize the achievement.

Reading from the Tree City USA proclamation, Jacobs said that trees are important to the community because they can reduce erosion of topsoil, cut heating and cooling costs, clean the air and provide habitats for wildlife while beautifying the city.

He said the city has recently put a focus on trees and shrubbery in a few of its park projects, and always works to quickly replace any trees that have to be removed. 

“We hate to have to cut trees down,” he said. “But even though we do have to cut some down, we always plant back more.”

The city also holds an annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for local fifth-graders, and Jacobs recognized the first- and second-place finishers from each of the four schools that participated. Winners were: 

First Place: West Elementary’s Claire McPhillips, Cullman Christian School’s Aiden Sandlin, St. Paul’s Episcopal School’s Malachi Ard and Sacred Heart Elementary’s Karly Arndt. 

Second Place: West Elementary’s Colton Mason, Cullman Christian’s Vella Richter, St. Paul’s Aubrey Murphy and Sacred Heart’s Yesenia Santiago.

First-place winners received $25 check and a Certificate of Recognition, and second-place winners received a $15 check and a Certificate of Recognition.

To be declared a Tree City USA, a city must meet the following four requirements:

A tree board or department. Cullman’s Tree Commission is comprised of seven members and meets at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of every even-numbered month at City Hall. Cullman also has a part-time City Arborist, Darrell Johns. The City Arborist and the Tree Commission work together to develop an orderly process for identifying public tree needs including maintenance, removal, planting, replacement, and public education. Current members of the Tree Commission include Everett Wier (Chairman), Peggy Harris, Nona Moon, Jan Barnett, Barry Slatton, Michael Sullins, Helen Marie Dahlke.

A tree care ordinance. The City of Cullman’s Urban Forestry Ordinance is Ordinance #1343.

An annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. Cullman’s per capita expense for community forestry in FY2019 was $125.57.

An Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Each year in February, the mayor issues an Arbor Day proclamation. The Tree Commission, Cullman County Extension Office, and the North Alabama Forestry Service also conduct related events in Cullman including the tree sale, Arbor Day Poster Contest and flag-raising ceremony.