Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley city crews will soon have a new tool to help improve the tree canopy over local roads — a bucket truck.

The Foley City Council approved the purchase of a surplus bucket truck that the Street Department will use to trim tree limbs along city streets and on public property.

Public Works Director Darrell Russell said the truck will be acquired from Riviera Utilities and is specifically designed to help trim branches near roadways.

“We’re starting a full-time tree trimming crew. What we're doing is getting a bucket truck from Riviera’s tree crew,” Russell said. “It's made for actual tree trimming.”

He said that until now, most Foley tree trimming has been limited to making certain that limbs do not grow down too low to allow city vehicles to pass under the trees. The limbs are trimmed to ensure at least 13-feet, 6-inches of clearance. He said Foley City Arborist John Graham and Public Works Department staff members developed the project to expand the city’s tree-trimming project.

“What we're trying to do is save the canopy,” Russell said. “For decades, we've worried about protecting fire trucks and garbage trucks at 13-6, but we need to go up into the canopy and make the trees better.”

Foley lost about 40% of its tree canopy on public and private property due to Hurricane Sally in 2020. The city has begun a program to replant trees on public property and rights of way and to encourage planting trees on private property.