By Marney Simon | Sentinel Staff
As the seasons change, the village of Shorewood moves forward with additional plans to remove damaged ash trees from sites around town.
Earlier this month, the village board approved a $200,000 purchase for tree removal.
The village has been working with Arbortek Services, Inc., since 2016 on the ash tree removal program. The pricing includes complete removal of ash trees from village parkways, haul away of materials, and grinding stumps- 12 to 14-inches deep and wide to allow for new plantings.
The latest extension of the project has no price increase from previous years and will cover three zones in the village. It’s an ongoing project that has the village revisits several times a year.
“We discussed this at the committee of the whole, we presented some information on what’s remaining,” said Public Works Supervisor Chris Drey. “We received this letter from Arbortek holding the price from 2016, so we’re looking for the board’s approval to allow us to continue removing those ash trees from the parkways.”
Shorewood is one of hundreds of local municipalities in the Midwest dealing with the fallout from the emerald ash borer infestation. The village began the tree removal and replacement project back in 2014, utilizing Arbortek for tree removal, and The Fields on Caton Farm for replacement trees.
The invasive emerald ash borers can destroy ash trees from the inside, beginning with dieback of the upper and outer parts of the trees. The trees also show additional sprouting at the base of the trunk and develop vertical splits in the bark.
Infested trees also attract woodpeckers, which each the pests under the bark.
Emerald ash borers are not dangerous to humans or pets but are capable of killing ash trees of any size, age, or health. Infested trees usually die in two to four years.
Shorewood’s ash tree program was budgeted in the current fiscal year for $300,000. The board approved a $100,000 tree purchase earlier this year, which allowed for replacement of approximately 348 trees.