City commissioners this week passed two new motions in an effort to clarify a two-week-old vote on several South Hills tree-thinning projects.

At their last meeting, commissioners voted 3-1 to expand the scope of two of those thinning projects, located off Lime Kiln Road, to include mechanized logging.

While that motion said the city would change its plans for the 12- and 15-acre parcels, only the Federal Emergency Management Agency has the power to approve those changes because the projects are funded with a FEMA grant.

City Manager Tim Burton has said the motion was poorly worded and said city officials had always known they couldn’t move forward without FEMA approval.

He proposed a new motion Monday night that asked city commissioners to authorize officials to work with FEMA on a possible new supplemental analysis, which would study the potential effects of including mechanized logging in the fuel-reduction projects.

Commissioners approved the motion 4-0, with Commissioner Matt Elsaesser, the lone dissenter two weeks ago, giving his approval.

Burton said a new motion wasn’t required but he thinks it will clear up any confusion in the community about the issue.

City officials initially planned hand-thinning work on the two lots, but a survey of the area this summer showed a high mortality rate in the stands, due to the infestation of pine bark beetles. The problem has become so severe there, officials say, that most of the trees should be removed. Environmental advocates have argued the beetles are a natural part of the ecosystem and said the forests should be left to manage themselves.

Commissioners also approved a motion to move forward with three hand-thinning projects on Nob Hill and Mount Ascension.

Some environmental advocates have criticized the city for failing to gather adequate public input on the proposed changes off Lime Kiln Road. Officials noted the public will be able to comment if FEMA decides to perform a new study, and the projects will be before commissioners again prior to the work getting under way.

“We’re open for comment and we welcome it,” he said.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com