Murrah County Board of Health backs Bloomington urban forester’s emerald ash borer grant application

On Oct. 7, 2025, the Murrah County Board of Health voted to approve a resolution verbally supporting the Bloomington Urban Forester’s application to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for work related to the emerald ash borer.

The resolution, introduced as an emergency item, asks the board to support proposed work that would evaluate existing ash trees, remove trees that are ill or pose danger, and replace removed trees with native species to preserve the urban canopy. The board approved the resolution by voice vote; no members opposed.

George, who the chair introduced as the board’s expert on the item, summarized the proposal as “simply a resolution which says that we support the application of the Bloomington Urban Forester to do proposed work including evaluating existing ash trees, or calling the ones that are ill and need to be, removed and and are a danger. And then thirdly, replacing with native, trees of other kinds, so that the urban canopy remains more or less as it is now.” He added, “It costs us nothing, and it may bring some funds our way, which will have good public hazard tax.”

Board members asked clarifying questions about who the urban forester is and whether the position is a city or county role. The discussion identified Haskell Smith as the City of Bloomington Urban Forester and noted that while the position is a city role, the city’s tree work affects county residents as well. A board member described a local Tree Commission that advises the urban forester.

The resolution does not obligate Murrah County to provide funding; the board’s action was to give verbal support for the city’s grant application. The board recorded the motion and carried it by voice vote.

The county health board did not discuss further budgetary commitments or operational details in the meeting; the city urban forester and Indiana DNR will determine grant administration if the application is funded.