CITY OF PICKERINGTON

TREE COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010

REGULAR MEETING

6:30 P.M.

 

 

  1. ROLL CALL.  Ms. Shelts called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M., with roll call as follows:  Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Mr. McKinley and Ms. Shelts were present.  Mr. Neill was absent.  Mrs. Goodrich, Ms.Carter, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Pawlowski, Edward Drobina and Angie Perrine were also present.  

 

 

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of January 25, 2010 Regular Meeting.  Mr. Goodrich moved to approve; Mr. McKinley seconded the motion.  Ms. Shelts, Mr. Malone, Mr. McKinley, and Mr. Goodrich voted “Aye”.  Motion carried, 4-0.

 

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS.  Mr. Pawlowski approached the Tree Commission regarding some apple trees and a pear tree beside the Service Department complex.  The trees bear fruit and he would like to take on trimming the trees in hopes of being able to collect the fruit.   Mr. Pawlowski stated he was here tonight to ask permission from the commission if this would be ok for him to do this.    Ms. Shelts replied that she didn’t see a problem with this as long as he realized he was working at his own risk.  The Tree Commission agreed this would be fine and stated no formal vote was needed only their verbal agreement. 

 

 

  1. REPORTS.   
    1. Street Tree Report

 

Mr. Drobina stated the report was very small this month due to weather.  Mr. Malone questioned what the cities answer was for the first item on the report.  Mr. Drobina responded that the Lisa Bowers from the Ohio Department of Agriculture is conducting a study of what other cities are doing in regards to sidewalks and tree roots.  Mr. Drobina stated once this study is complete he will bring it to the commission.

 

 

 

  

       5.    SCHEDULED MATTERS.

                  a.   Tree Preservation Update. 

Ms. Shelts asked how often the database was being updated.  Mr. Drobina replied when we are doing things it is updated monthly. 

 

    1. Emerald Ash Borer.

      No Comments. 

 

    1.   Arboretum.

Mr. Malone questioned the commission about the mowing of the arboretum this year.   Mr. McKinley stated he would like to see the natural vegetation stay and just mow the paths.  Mr. Drobina stated that was fine with him it was up to the tree commission.  Mr. Malone replied this might save some time and money at this point and maybe start looking into developing a longer term plan for mowing certain areas and letting others go. Ms. Shelts stated she is still concerned about the remoteness of the arboretum and vandalism. 

 

                  d.    Arbor Day.

Ms. Shelts asked what day have we decided for the Arbor Day celebration Friday or Saturday.  Mr. McKinley stated that he had contacted a couple of elementary schools and some science teachers at central and none of them seemed much interested in participating.  Mr. Drobina commented that he had talked to Mr. Mahaffey about Clean Up Day and Arbor Day together and said the logistics would not work out for them.  They meet at 256 and 70 and this would mean they would have to go back and forth.  Mr. McKinley replied he would like to just keep it on Friday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. after some discussion this was agreed on by the commission.  Ms. Shelts stated that she had some tree posters that she would like to show everyone.  She had talked to the school and her idea was to do a tree art project, but the district thought this was too complicated.  But she did get the ok to place these posters on the walls in the schools and thought she could place information regarding Arbor Day celebration along with the posters.  Some more discussions regarding Arbor Day was done.  Mr. Malone stated he would do the presentation of the tree for Mr. Ellis.  Mr. McKinley stated he would do the history of Arbor Day.  Mr. Goodrich stated he would talk about the tree.  Mr. Drobina stated that he was going to contact some tree farms and pick out three trees that are available and let the tree commission decided on which tree at next months meeting.          

                        

                                                                                                                                                

  1. COMMUNICATION.

            a.      Tree Commission Letter Request.

Mr. Malone stated that we have a request for an Eagle Scout recognition letter for Timothy Bushman.  He was involved with planting Ivory Silk Lilac Trees along Columbus Street between the railroad tracks and Old Pickerington Village Diner.  Mr. Malone recommended this letter to be written and sent out before the requested date of March 20, 2010.  Mr. McKinley commented that he would draft a letter and e-mail it to Ms. Perrine and she can put it on the cities letterhead paper and have all the Tree Commission members sign it. 

 

 

7.   OTHER BUSINESS.  Mr. McKinley stated that everyone should have a copy of a page from the Parks Master Plan regarding recommendations for the revisions to the existing code.  There is one section regarding Urban Forestry and this is something that hasn’t been acted on by the Tree Commission.  He just wanted to bring this to everyone’s attention, so we could review and place on next month’s agenda. 

                   

      8.   ADJOURNMENT. 

            Their being nothing further, Mr. McKinley moved to adjourn, Mr. Goodrich seconded the motion.   Ms. Shelts, Mr. Malone, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. McKinley voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.  The Tree Commission adjourned at 7:00 P.M. on February 24, 2010

           

 

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Angie Perrine, Administrative Assistant

 

 

________________________________

Edward Drobina, Service Manager