Tree removal

We have a maple tree on our property that causes such a mess from March - December it has resulted in us despising this tree. (Not to mention this tree is a bit worrisome with regard to proximity of our home should there be a severe storm).Someone mentioned to me that there are people/companies out there who will pay for maple trees, or the removal of, to use the wood for building projects. Anyone know of such people?

Maple trees are valuable for wood working when they are tall and straight with few lateral limbs. Trees like this usually grow in a forest. If the tree is next to your house and requires an intricate removal nobody will want to do it for the wood.

Also if you're in Maplewood and the tree is over a foot in diameter - get a permit.

Given all the above, if you decide to have the tree removed and don't find someone who will do it for the wood, I highly recommend Frank's Tree Service in Summit. They did a great job for us removing a big, mostly dead oak that was behind the garage and entangled in wires. Prompt, no mess (even though they had to run their biggish truck over our grass), and considerably less $$ than other estimates. (This was probably 10 years ago, though.)

FWIW: If I remember the story correctly, my neighbors tried to get a permit to take down an oak that they didn't want, but had the permit denied. Since they couldn't take it down, they had most of the limbs taken off... I assume to encourage the tree to get sick or die so they can get the permit to take it down.