Human Resources

What Does an Arborist Do?

Ben Bangert, a certified arborist with the Parks Department, oversees the city’s tree maintenance program as part of a senior maintenance position. His duties and skills include:

• Performs skilled work trimming, pruning and felling trees, removing diseased, broken or hazardous limbs from trees, or the removal of entire tree when required.
• Oversees and participates in the selection and planting of new trees.
• Assists with inspection and health assessment of trees.
• Must be able to use climbing saddle, ropes and knots.

With the emerald ash borer destroying thousands of ash trees in the Albert Lea area, Bangert is playing an important role in preserving hundreds of ash trees that can be saved. He is also helping prevent future losses of trees by ensuring the city plants a healthy diversity of species.

Bangert also visits third-grade classrooms in Albert Lea every year to educate students about Arbor Day and how trees provide clean air, reduce stormwater runoff and offer valuable habitat for wildlife.