CITY OF PICKERINGTON

TREE COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

REGULAR MEETING

6:00 P.M.

 

 

  1. ROLL CALL.  Mr. McKinley called the meeting to order at 6:05 P.M., with roll call as follows:  Mr. Goodrich, Ms. Carter, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Malone who arrived after roll call were present.  Ms. Shelts was absent.  Edward Drobina, Gregg Ellis, Mrs. Goodrich and Angie Perrine were also present.

 

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of July 10, 2008, Regular Meeting.  Mr. Goodrich  moved to approve; Ms. Carter seconded the motion.  Mr.Goodrich, Ms. Carter,  and Mr. McKinley voted “Aye”.  Motion carried, 3-0.  Mr. Malone was not  present at the time of this vote.

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS.  No comments. 

 

  1. REPORTS.   

A.                 Street Tree Report

Mr. Goodrich stated that it looked like Mr. Ellis had been very busy.

Ms. Carter questioned why a Silver Maple tree on 24 E. Borland Street had been removed by the request of the residents.  Mr. Drobina stated he recalled the tree was over the sidewalk and had some decay in the tree.  Mr. Goodrich asked Mr. Ellis if any trees have been ordered for next year?   Mr. Ellis replied he has not come up with a list, but will be working on one soon.

 

     5.    SCHEDULED MATTERS.

                  A.        Tree Preservation Update

Mr. Goodrich asked about the new development called Pickerington Assisted Living.  Mr. Ellis stated that no trees were disturbed as far as he was aware of. 

 

B.                 Tree Data Base

No comments.

 

C.                 Arboretum.

Ms. Carter asked if we had found any alternative to the stakes we use.  Mr. McKinley  replied he has not researched this yet.

 

 

  1. COMMUNICATION.  No comments.

      

 

  1. OTHER BUSINESS.  Mr. McKinley stated that he attended the Pickerington Finance Committee meeting regarding the reviewing of the City Arborist position.   Mr. Drobina commented that it looked like the committee has decided to drop cutting the position for now.  The committee stated for all the savings they would save by not funding the position they would just leave it the way it is for now.  But if the Income Tax Levy did not pass.  They would have to take another look at the Arborist position.  Mr. McKinley asked Mr. Drobina what was the quote he received for taking care of the community trees.  Mr. Drobina  commented that he did get a price from a contractor to come in and trim what he called “commercial trees” and that price was under $25,000.00.  Mr. McKinley also stated the committee was also looking into moving the maintenance of the street trees back to the homeowner.  Mr. Drobina replied that ordinance has also been placed on hold.  Mr. Drobina thanked Mr. McKinley for attending the finance committee meetings and his effort in keeping the Arborist position.  Mr. McKinley also thanked Mr. Drobina for all his work as well.

 

Mr. Drobina stated that he will not be able to make it to next months meeting that he will be on vacation that week.  Ms. Carter stated they had talked before about not meeting every month during the winter.  Mr. Malone asked what months she was referring to.  A discussion went on in regards to what months would be best for the tree commission not to meet. 

 

After discussion, Ms. Carter made a motion that the Tree Commission would not meet in the months of November and February; Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Ms. Carter, Mr. Malone, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Goodrich voted “Aye”.  Motion carried, 4-0.

 

Mr. Malone asked if anyone was planning on attending the Central Ohio Urban Forestry Conference being held on Thursday, September 18th.  He stated that he was going.  Mr. Malone also mentioned that there is a tree identification class being offered in Lancaster.  Mr. Drobina stated he would forward this information to the committee about the class.                                                                  

 

 

     8.     ADJOURNMENT

            Their being nothing further, Mr. Malone moved to adjourn, Ms. Carter seconded the motion.  Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Ms. Carter, and Mr. McKinley voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.  The Tree Commission adjourned at 6:20 P.M. on September 11, 2008.

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Angie Perrine, Administrative Assistant

 

 

________________________________

Ed Drobina, Service Manager