Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Ground Level Blog
Nancy Lebens

Hutchinson, a Tree City USA cuts forester job

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

About as long as Hutchinson has had a forester, the city has earned a place on the national roster of Tree City USA. For three decades, Hutchinson forester Mark Schnobrich has pruned boulevard trees, applied for grants and has given free advice to residents with questions about their own trees. Because the city expects less state government aid and has a limited desire to raise property taxes in 2011, the full time forester job will be eliminated. Schnobrich hopes to spend at least part of his early retirement to help make sure Hutchinson hangs onto its Tree City USA designation, though he says he's not sure what will happen to it.

I hate to see 31 years of active community forestry come to end. We hope to have someone in the community take it on.

Hutchinson, population 13,835, is unusual for cities of its size to have a forester to begin with. Schnobrich thinks that a forester shared among a group of cities might be the model of the future.

Ground Level is focusing on the changes cities go through as they deal with new budget realities. Some cities report their budgets are smaller this year than in the recent past. Hutchinson's city administrator Gary Plotz says the budget now is smaller than it was in 2008.

Hutchinson is cutting back positions in other areas as well. The city is trimming its fire department from two full time firefighters to one. At least eight people will be leaving Hutchinson city government before 2011. One of them is Gary Plotz. He says his position as administrator will be combined with that of the city finance director. Plotz already had taken over the duties of the planning director.

Hutchinson's plan through 2014 is to try to gradually eliminate reliance on local government aid. The preliminary levy for 2011 was set at 2 percent, which may be reduced by the time the budget is finally passed at the end of December.