CITY OF
PICKERINGTON
TREE COMMISSION
CITY HALL, 100
LOCKVILLE ROAD
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER
10, 2007
REGULAR MEETING
6:00 P.M.
Ms. Shelts stated she would like to make a statement that she thinks was in the Work Session minutes that she wanted to clarify because she didn’t think reading down literally what was in the minutes was what I intended to say. She stated that where it said “I don’t think that anyone would come forward and ask about a city tree being removed at whatever expense.” She stated she apologizes if anyone thought she meant that literally. She stated what she would like to clarify for the record that she doesn’t believe many people would come forward and want city trees to be removed at their own expense.
Mr. McKinley stated a motion is on the floor to approve the minutes of August 29, 2007 and September 12, 2007. Mr.Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Ms. Carter, Mr. McKinley and Ms. Shelts voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 5-0.
Ms. Hammond stated that as she was walking at the Arboretum she noticed that as you come off the bridge there is an oval flower garden that looks neglected. She stated she mentioned it to Ms. Carter and told her that she has a perennial garden in her back yard and wondered whether she and Ms. Carter could take her extra flowers over and plant it in the Arboretum garden. She stated that it would be fairly easy care and would only have to be cleaned up in either the spring or the fall and would look better than what we have there now. Ms. Hammond stated that most of it would be free and maybe we could add a few other things. Ms. Hammond stated she doesn’t know if the best time to plant the perennials would be in the fall or maybe it would be better to wait until spring. Mr. Goodrich stated that spring would probably be a better time. Mr. Drobina stated the soil was hauled in and should be pretty good soil and the flowers should do well there. Mr. Goodrich thanked Ms. Hammond for donating perennials and also her time to plant them.
A. Street Tree Report
Mr. Goodrich asked if Mr. Ellis has ordered the trees for the fall planting yet. Mr. Drobina stated we are still getting prices. Mr. Drobina stated that we have 153 trees to plant this fall.
Ms. Shelts asked if they checked the ash trees that were removed to see if they were diseased. Mr. Drobina stated these were larger trees that had been dead for quite awhile.
5. SCHEDULED MATTERS.
A. Tree Preservation Update
Mr. Malone stated there is nothing new to report at this time.
B. Tree Data Base
Ms. Carter stated she is working on it and updating as Mr. Ellis gives her more. Ms. Carter stated it should be finished soon.
C. Arboretum.
Mr. McKinley stated he has tracked down a contact in the Metro Parks for the people who order the plaques for the trees to get more information but they have been playing phone tag so he is still working on it.
Ms. Shelts asked if there has been any more damage at the Arboretum. Mr. Drobina stated that he was not aware of any.
D. Emerald Ash Borer
Mr. McKinley stated the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Pickerington at I-70 and 256. Mr. McKinley stated the city has approximately 1,200 ash trees. He stated that Fairfield County is now under quarantine and you cannot move hardwood in or out of the county but you can use it within the county. Mr. McKinley asked if it was just 2 or 3 trees that are diseased. Mr. Drobina stated that he has just heard of 1 tree. Mr. Malone stated that was one of the target trees. Mr. Drobina stated that was one of the trees that they came in last year and girdled so they could take them down for testing. Mr. McKinley asked if they are going to expand the program for more target trees. Mr. Drobina stated they did 6 or 7 in different areas of the city. Mr. Malone asked where in proximity to the diseased tree did they do it. Mr. Drobina stated they did some at the water plant and some out at the park but he hasn’t heard from Lisa that they have found any other ones. Mr. Drobina stated he was going to have Lisa come in the next two or three weeks to look at some of the other ash trees that appear to be dying. Ms. Shelts asked if we have gotten instructions from Lisa on what to do with this tree. Mr. Drobina stated there is nothing we can do. Ms. Shelts asked if we would remove the tree. Mr. Drobina stated that it has already been removed.
Mr. Goodrich stated he has resubmitted to everyone the base copy of the plan with the corrections that were asked for at the last meeting. Mr. Malone stated we should take the word potential out of the plan. Mr. Goodrich stated he would make that change. Mr. Drobina stated he did present a copy of this to Service Committee last month and everyone seemed to be fine with it and didn’t have any questions. Ms. Hammond stated they were grateful that you put together a plan. Mr. McKinley stated we need to send the management plan to Service Committee formally so we can get it moving on to council.
Mr. McKinley made a motion to accept the management plan and move it on to Service Committee. Ms. Shelts seconded the motion.
Mr. McKinley
stated the motion is on the table to approve the Emerald Ash Borer City of
Pickerington Management Plan and move it on to Service Committee. Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Ms. Carter, Mr.
McKinley and Ms. Shelts voting “Yea”. Motion passed 5-0.
Mr. McKinley stated the Commission should start looking at dollars and what we need to present to council for removals. Mr. McKinley stated we could do that next meeting. Mr. Goodrich asked how close the database is to knowing how many ash trees there are. Ms. Carter stated the information could already be moved right over. Mr. Goodrich stated we would need to make some kind of plan because the plan calls for perimeter trees to go first and if we have an accounting we would be able to give council an idea. Ms. Carter stated that most of them are inner city and the outer edges aren’t heavy in ash.
Mr. Malone stated that we still need to be make sure, whether its through DNR or Mr. Ellis, we need to ascertain the best we can, how much the ash borer may have spread beyond the central tree. Mr. Malone stated there could still be others in the vicinity that are infested and that might direct where we put our focus first. Mr. McKinley asked when ODNR would next come out to look at the other target trees. Mr. Drobina stated he didn’t know but he would call Lisa and see if she could make it next week or the week after.
E. City Beautification Campaign
Mr. McKinley stated he was looking at something low cost, more manpower, free labor oriented. He stated he wanted something to bring awareness up and maybe have some friendly competition between subdivisions and recognizing some people who do go the extra mile to make things more presentable and beautiful. Ms. Carter stated they have already started with the clean up Pickerington day and with the signs that say keep it clean.
6. COMMUNICATION.
Mr. Drobina stated he sent the letter to Ms. Winters in Melrose and has not heard anything back. Mr. Drobina stated that he basically told her the Committee decided the tree would not be removed. Mr. Drobina stated he also got a memo from our attorney’s concerning the acorns.
Mr. McKinley stated he wanted to thank Mr. Goodrich for all the work he’s done on the management plan. Mr. Goodrich said thank you for getting us started. Mr. McKinley thanked Ms. Carter for all the work on the database. Ms. Carter said thanks for all the help.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. McKinley stated that hopefully next meeting we will hear back from Service Committee or City Council on the management plan.
Ms. Shelts stated there is a brochure in here from Wooster offering a “Why Trees Matter” forum and has someone been slated to go to that. Mr. McKinley stated he could not make it. Ms. Shelts stated she is working that day and cannot attend. Mr. McKinley asked if Mr. Ellis is going. Mr. Drobina stated he is not. Mr. Drobina stated if someone wants to attend let us know so we can turn in the paperwork.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Their being nothing further, Ms. Carter moved to adjourn, Mr. Goodrich seconded the motion. Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Ms. Carter, Mr. McKinley, and Ms. Shelts voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 5-0. The Tree Commission adjourned at 6:25 P.M. on October 10, 2007.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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Diana Fuller, Administrative Assistant
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Ed Drobina, Service Manager