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7. Board Appointment - Street Tree CommitteeLarry D. Roberts E-A 45 Willow Drive ? 0 14 M A,Y 16 Psi 2; 2 Kalispell MT 59901 I CLERK 406-756-6214 — cell 406-253-9368 smalldetails@bresnan.net City of Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department 306 First Avenue East Kalispell MT 59901 May 14, 2014 Dear Mayor Mark Johnson and City Council, I am applying for the vacant opening on the Street Tree Committee. I come from a third generation forestry family. My grandfather homesteaded in the Mountain Brook area. As a native to the Flathead Valley, I was raised with an appreciation for the beauty of trees whether in the forest or walking home from Hedges School. Each time I drive down the streets of Kalispell, I am aware of the beautiful trees and how much pride the city takes in maintaining them. I have been working in the timber industry for 30 years with the past 10 years focusing on forest management, silviculture and fuel reduction. I have worked with many landowners to improve their property by thinning brush, removing diseased trees and enhancing their property to a park like environment with emphasis on mosaic look, keeping it natural. I encourage people to take an active part in planning out their property to include wildlife habitats, dust and noise reduction, windbreaks and privacy barriers. I have written several proposals for grants and have successfully helped landowners receive financing to complete their projects. These people have invested a lot into their property and to see them so pleased upon completion of the project is rewarding. If I am appointed to the Street Tree Committee I would help our city to continue to improve the urban forest. I feel that I could bring a lot of knowledge to the committee to accomplish the goals of the City of Kalispell Parks and Recreation. I can provide references at your request. Sincerely, Larry D. Roberts Keigh Smiley, Forester 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 758-3505 office; (406) 270 8575 cell To whom it may concern: I work as a Forester for the US Forest Service and am currently employed on the Flathead National Forest at the Tally Lake Ranger District. I first worked with Larry Roberts on the Brush Creek Fire (August of 2007) where I was assigned as a Resource Advisor. Larry's company, LTL forestry, was contracted for the construction of fire line which included the falling, yarding, and stacking of smaller diameter fuels. Work also included the falling and decking of some merchantable material. One of Larry's machines had several innovations he had added that made it very versatile for the restoration of fire line, stream crossings, and Streamside Management Zones (SMZ's). I worked,closely with Larry for 27 days to achieve forest restoration objectives. Larry worked conscientiously and thoroughly to meet Forest Service standards and/or engineered specifications. Larry was often asked to work in close proximity to Forest Service personnel for the purposes of hazard tree removal and exact placement of restoration materials in stream courses. Larry is a very steady operator and was careful to comply with all Forest Service safety standards and OSHA regulations. All objectives were completed to a high degree of quality and in a timely manner. I am also familiar with work Larry has done on private lands with Roberts Logging. In September of 2008, 1 worked as a consultant on a salvage logging operation of lands burned by the Skyland Fire. Roberts Logging was the primary contractor and was responsible for the falling, yarding, processing, and hauling of all merchantable logs. Non -merchantable material was mostly piled and burned although some stems were left in place for soilstabilization and nutrient cycling. Larry was responsible for constructing and deconstructing stream crossings to Montana State standards as outlined by SMZ law, and exceeded the minimum requirements by working to employ Best Management Practices (BMP's) whenever applicable. Larry built clean slash piles, scarified designated skid roads, built water bars to minimize erosion, and established a four log sort on two landings. The fire burned the forest in a patchwork fashion and the landowners were very concerned with protecting their remaining healthy trees. Roberts logging completed all work with minimum damage to the residual timber, protected the three active water courses on the property, and ensured all equipment was kept clean to prevent the spread of noxious weeds. Additionally, Roberts logging worked with the landowners to protect their improvements, survey monuments, utilities, and public road ways. Larry was asked to shovel -log two loads of trees on a steep hill and place them in a tight deck between a road and a fence under low hanging power lines; this work was completed without incident. Roberts logging fulfilled all the specified requirements of the contract and work was completed in a timely manner. In my experience, Larry has been easy to communicate with and clearly provides leadership in his work groups. The skills Larry demonstrates can only be learned from a lifetime of experience on the ground. Larry is a safe and professional operator. Most importantly, Larry has an innate sense of the requirements of each job and he will do whatever it takes to get the job done right. I would highly recommend Larry as a contractor for a wide range of work in natural resource management. Sincerely, 1 o°, March 10, 2009 To whom it may concern: I worked with Roberts Logging during the fall of 2006 and the summer and fall of 2007 and 2008 and LTL Forestry in the summer and fall of 2008 as the Forest Officer on the West Fork Timber Sale, This is a large and unique timber sale as it has many steep areas and blind leads which required temporary skid trails and landings to facilitate cable logging. The West Fork Timber Sale is a good sale to judge an operator on as it has many challenges such as timing restrictions, operating in snow 4 and 5 feet deep, and steep brushy terrain with blind leads. Roberts Logging has tackled all these facets with a good attitude. I appreciated how they communicated with me and strove to meet -or exceed my requests in completing this contract, LTL Forestry asks good questions to ensure he understands the task required and follows up with first-rate work. An example of this was two temporary roads on slopes between 20% and 60% which were required to be put back to contour. LTL Forestry did -an excellent job of returning these roads to their near original slope while incorporating lots slash to give this rehabilitation a very natural appearance. Finally, Roberts Logging and LTL Forestry have a good attitudes and do quality work, It is for these reasons that I look forward to working with both Roberts Logging and LTL Forestry again this summer to complete the West Fork Timber Sale, Dave Ring Forest Management Specialist Stillwater State Forest PO Box 164 Olney, Montana 59927 Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (406) 881-2371