Way bigger then the mail box

As you can see this is a big tree, way bigger then out big blue mail box. 

We noticed something happening with this big Male Cottonwood tree we have in our yard at the end of the second driveway.  The bottom part of the bark about 12 feet up is coming off.  On both side of the tree. You can't see the dying limbs because the huge maple tree behind it but our village came by and looked at it and told my husband because it's on village property they will cut it down.  It's sad because it's been through some major storms and taken some beatings over the years but when the redid the culverts and bared them the root where exposed and that wasn't good. Three years ago that was and limbs have been fall off and it's scary because our neighbors drive way is close by and we don't want them to fall on his van and car.   It's going to be missed and shade will be lost for sure.   Not sure when they will be out to cut it down but soon as they marked the area for any underground stuff there.