A new bucket truck will soon roll into service in Foley as part of the city's push to improve and preserve its tree canopy.

Foley City Council approved the purchase of a surplus vehicle from Riviera Utilities to support the city's first full-time tree trimming crew. The truck, built specifically for tree work, will allow city workers to trim branches along roadways and city rights of way more efficiently and safely.

"We're starting a full-time tree trimming crew. What we're doing is getting a bucket truck from Riviera's tree crew," said Darrell Russell, Foley Public Works director. "It's made for actual tree trimming."

Until now, Russell said, the city's tree work has focused primarily on maintaining the minimum height clearance of 13 feet, 6 inches to allow city vehicles, including fire trucks and garbage trucks, to pass beneath safely. With the new equipment and expanded effort, the goal is no longer just clearance but overall canopy health.

"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."

City Arborist John Graham and Public Works staff helped shape the initiative to expand tree trimming citywide. The team will use the bucket truck to access higher limbs, improve tree structure and promote long-term health across city-owned green spaces.

The push to improve Foley's tree canopy comes in response to the extensive damage left by Hurricane Sally in 2020, which wiped out roughly 40% of the city's trees on both public and private land. Since then, Foley has launched a replanting program focused on restoring trees along streets, parks and public property, while encouraging residents to do the same on their own lots.