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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2020)
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 23 Check before you cut trees Dear Property Guy By Mike Zoormajian Dear Property Guy, I live in downtown Sisters and recently cut down some sick trees near my house. A neighbor advised that I needed a permit to cut trees. I told her to get off my lawn and to mind her own busi- ness, but now I9m curious what the real deal is. 4 Sisters Lumberjack PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BEALL The smallest falcon, the Merlin (Falco columbarius) Sisters Country birds By Douglas Beall Correspondent The smallest falcon, the Merlin (Falco columbar- ius), primarily hunts smaller birds while flying 4 flush- ing birds from thickets and chasing them using their amazing speed and maneu- verability to catch their prey on the wing. During their breeding season the Merlin inhab- its open upland and low- land prairies. Merlins do not build their own nests; instead they use old stick nests built by hawks, mag- pies or crows. Occasionally they nest on ledges or tree cavities. The nest contains three to six brown eggs, which are incubated for 27 Do you have a story idea for to 32 days. The male provides all food for the brood and female until the young begin to fledge. The young leave the nest about a month after hatching and leave the area within five weeks to begin their adult life. There are Merlins pass- ing through Central Oregon now, as they will stop and hunt before heading south, although a few may remain in our area. In the past the Merlin was called a pigeon hawk. Groups of Merlins are referred to as a <leash,= a <brace,= or an <illusion= of Merlins. For more Merlin photos visit http://abird singsbecauseithasasong. com/recent-journeys. SUDOKU SOLUTION for puzzle on page 20 CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S NUGGET INSERT! Ray’s Food Place Assorted Pork Chops, Value Pack $1.69 per lb. Fresh Express Salad Blends 2 for $5 Lean Cuisine Entrees The Nugget? 4 for $10, 6-11.87 oz. selected Bulk Russet Potatoes We9d love to hear it! Send an email to editor@nuggetnews.com Dear Jack: Property Guy is happy to help with your trees, but has nothing to offer as far as your neighbor goes. This question is so far out of Property Guy9s world, I had to go to my local expert. I contacted my friend, Sisters City Manager Corey Misley, who was super helpful in get- ting me smart on the subject. I learned that many cities in Oregon require permits to cut trees of a certain diameter even on private property. But Sisters currently isn9t one of them. That said, Sisters may take up a potential code amendment regarding larger trees in the future. Problems (and hefty fines) have arisen when peo- ple have cut trees that appear to be on private property, but are actually on City property or right-of-way. So best to check in with the city and get something in writing before 89 ¢ per. lb. Assorted Pears, New Crop Comments? Email editor@nuggetnews.com $1.79 per lb. engaging in any cutting or significant trimming <Preserving our urban for- est is part of what has made Sisters a special place,= said Corey. <We have City staff who can help with the review process.= But wait there9s more& If there is a development application or building per- mit outstanding, the city does regulate tree removal and can require replacement of trees at a 3:1 ratio. So if you9re removing trees as part of a new build or addition, you9ll need to work through the city. So long story short: You were cool in your scenario. Trees = Good. More trees = Better. Cutting your own trees = Good. Cutting trees on city property = Bad. Check in with City first and everything should be fine. 4 Mike Dear Property Guy: A tenant we really, really liked just exited our rental in Bend. They left the house in perfect condition except for some deeply scratched areas from their dog on the a couple sections of wood floor. We want to be fair, and want future tenants to be able to have pets, but it9s going to be pretty expensive to repair. 4 Doggie Landlord Dear Dogs: You got a couple issues here. The tenants are legally liable for damage above <normal wear and tear.= So let your conscience be your guide here. I generally advise my cli- ents that doggies and wood floors don9t mix. Especially if it9s a soft wood. If you want to continue to rent to pet owners, I9d advise cover- ing the real wood floor with an engineered product to save the natural wood. Then uncover and repair the wood when it comes time to sell. 4 Mike Mike Zoormajian is prin- cipal at WetDog Properties in Sisters. Providing local prop- erty management and investor services. Questions, comments to letters@wetdogpnw.com. Free legal advice is worth what you pay. Consult an attorney before doing anything crazy.