Politics & Government
City Lands Grant to Replace Some Borer-Infested Trees
However, the number of trees it will purchase is small in comparison to the number that will be removed because of the emerald ash borer.
Joliet has landed a $12,000 grant to purchase 50 to 90 trees, but it will put only a small dent in replacing the number being removed because of emerald ash borer infestation, officials said.
The grant, awarded through Morton Arboretum, was announced by City Manager Tom Thanas at last week's Joliet City Council.
Thanas was given council approval to approach neighborhood groups and homeowners associations that have expressed an interest in helping replace lost trees by sharing the cost with the city on a 50/50 basis. That will allow the city to buy twice as many trees with the grant money, he said.
"These are trees that were already cut down, already infested and diseased, so now we're coming back with trees that (city arborist) Jim Teiber would select and work with the neighborhood groups," he said.
According to Teiber, the city has taken down nearly 300 trees this year because of the emerald ash borer, and expects to remove about 1,000 by year's end.
Some subdivisions, such as Glenwood Manor, will lose more than half of its trees to the insidious insect, which burrows into the tree's trunk and lays eggs. The larvae consume the inside of the tree before emerging as adults via tiny d-shaped holes.
Because ash trees had been inexpensive and hardy – able to thrive in the worst quality of soil and to grow quickly – they became popular to plant along city-owned parkways and in the landscaping of new subdivisions. Last year, Teiber said there are going to be parts of town – such as the neighborhood behind at Essington and Theodore – where every tree might have to be removed.
Last year, the city removed nearly 200 trees. It's estimated that 80 percent of the city's ash trees are infested.
It's impossible to tell if a tree is infested until it starts dying, typically from the top down, experts say.
Some municipalities have employed methods to keep their ash trees on "life support" so the towns can spread out the cost of removing them, but Joliet has opted to skip that expense. The thinking is it's better to use the money to take them down and then find money to replace them, Thanas said.
Councilman Larry Hug said the city has been lucky so far because its tree removal contract has been fairly reasonable compared to what other municipalities have been paying. That won't likely be the case when it's time to rebid it, he said.
"Starting next year, we're going to be looking at thousands of trees coming down because they're dead and they're going to start rotting," Hug said. "The cost per inch in diameter is most likely going to go up."
He suggested the city consider buying a second chipper and possibly a stump removing machine so some of the work can be done by city employees. Thanas said he would ask Teiber to look into the cost.
"If we can actually save some dollars, that's more that we can put towards the trees," Hug said.
Homeowners also have the option of paying for and planting trees in Joliet parkways themselves, but they must choose from a list of city-approved species and obtain a permit from the city. For more information, contact Teiber at 815-724-4046 or via the city of Joliet’s Forestry Department site, www.cityofjoliet.info/City-Government/Forestry.htm.
Thanas was given council approval to approach neighborhood groups and homeowners associations that have expressed an interest in helping replace lost trees by sharing the cost with the city on a 50/50 basis. That will allow the city to buy twice as many trees with the grant money, he said.
"These are trees that were already cut down, already infested and diseased, so now we're coming back with trees that (city arborist) Jim Teiber would select and work with the neighborhood groups," he said.
According to Teiber, the city has taken down nearly 300 trees this year because of the emerald ash borer, and expects to remove about 1,000 by year's end.
Some subdivisions, such as Glenwood Manor, will lose more than half of its trees to the insidious insect, which burrows into the tree's trunk and lays eggs. The larvae consume the inside of the tree before emerging as adults via tiny d-shaped holes.
Because ash trees had been inexpensive and hardy – able to thrive in the worst quality of soil and to grow quickly – they became popular to plant along city-owned parkways and in the landscaping of new subdivisions. Last year, Teiber said there are going to be parts of town – such as the neighborhood behind at Essington and Theodore – where every tree might have to be removed.
Last year, the city removed nearly 200 trees. It's estimated that 80 percent of the city's ash trees are infested.
It's impossible to tell if a tree is infested until it starts dying, typically from the top down, experts say.
Some municipalities have employed methods to keep their ash trees on "life support" so the towns can spread out the cost of removing them, but Joliet has opted to skip that expense. The thinking is it's better to use the money to take them down and then find money to replace them, Thanas said.
Councilman Larry Hug said the city has been lucky so far because its tree removal contract has been fairly reasonable compared to what other municipalities have been paying. That won't likely be the case when it's time to rebid it, he said.
"Starting next year, we're going to be looking at thousands of trees coming down because they're dead and they're going to start rotting," Hug said. "The cost per inch in diameter is most likely going to go up."
He suggested the city consider buying a second chipper and possibly a stump removing machine so some of the work can be done by city employees. Thanas said he would ask Teiber to look into the cost.
"If we can actually save some dollars, that's more that we can put towards the trees," Hug said.
Homeowners also have the option of paying for and planting trees in Joliet parkways themselves, but they must choose from a list of city-approved species and obtain a permit from the city. For more information, contact Teiber at 815-724-4046 or via the city of Joliet’s Forestry Department site, www.cityofjoliet.info/City-Government/Forestry.htm.
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