Brandon Twp.- Township residents have 143 chances to win the lottery.
The jackpot is a tree, and while money doesn’t grow on it, the sunset red maple is hearty and should attract bees.
‘They should grow to be beautiful trees and are pollinator-friendly,? said Supervisor Kathy Thurman.
Township officials approved during their March 2 meeting the purchase of 143 sunset red maples, at a cost of $10,000, from Wojo’s Greenhouse. The trees, which will be 5 to 6 feet tall in 7-gallon pots, will be purchased using funds provided by Enbridge Energy, resulting from a woodlands settlement the company made with the township during replacement of the Line 6B petroleum pipeline that runs through the community.
The settlement is in addition to replacing trees on properties affected by the pipeline and a drawing for the free maples will be open to all township residents, regardless of whether the pipeline is on their property.
Township officials will conduct a blind draw for the trees in August.
Residents can submit their names for the drawing by calling the supervisor’s office at 248-627-4918 or visiting the office at 395 Mill St. to express an interest by Aug. 14.