TIFTON — The Tifton City Council recognized the Tifton Tree Board for their recently awarded accolades at the most recent council meeting.

During their Nov. 6 meeting, council members congratulated the tree board for receiving the Outstanding Civic Organization Award from the Georgia Tree Council.

Michael Mitchem, a liaison for the board, reported that he and Main Street manager Hillery Culpepper had submitted a nomination to the state organization in September, and had received notification that they had won the award the following month.

A painting of a city street in Columbus, Georgia, where the Tree Council conference in which the award was presented was held, was gifted to the Tree Board alongside their award.

Mitchem took a moment to acknowledge the hard work of many of his fellow board members, several of whom were in attendance of the meeting, and pointed them out to be recognized for their efforts.

Tree Board chair George Vellidis also praised the dedication of his associates, asserting that the members of the board are all volunteers who work hard solely for the passion they have for the city’s trees and the city itself and feeling honored to be able to serve Tifton as well as he and the rest of the tree board have.

Speaking on future endeavors, Mitchem stated that the Tree Board was still waiting to hear back on the grant from Trees Across Georgia, which they had applied for in September, but had recently received the 2023 Georgia Relief Grant, which they planned to use for planting trees around the Housing Authority and Puckett Park.