The Athens Shade Tree Commission reported progress on several grant and program efforts aimed at restoring city urban-forestry capacity and expanding the tree inventory.

A commission member said they are drafting a first ODNR grant application to support rehiring a city arborist or urban-forester and to fund a professional tree inventory. The member reported letters of support already received from Rural Action, the Ohio Environmental Council and the Sustainability Commission and said the commission is working to secure city council support; Sam Crowell was named as a staff contact in those conversations. The grant application deadline referenced in the packet is in August.

Commissioners also discussed Tree City filings and outreach to contractors used in past years to identify firms willing to participate in training (for example, to prepare candidates for ISA certification). The commission extended a deadline discussed in earlier meetings by six months to allow contractors time to respond and asked staff to email the list of prior contractors.

On partnerships and programming, the commission noted recent university class studies done by Dr. Matt Lacks’ urban ecology students and a missed rain garden workshop; members said they will follow up with those educators and organizers. The commission also reported a Conservancy request for support for a Clean Ohio grant to acquire roughly an 80-acre parcel to expand wildlife corridor and preserve land; commissioners said they will review and consider endorsing that effort.

Finally, the commission confirmed plans for an Arbor Day/planting event on Nov. 8 and the intent to coordinate species selection and volunteer recruitment, including working with Menards and the Arbor Day Foundation; commissioners expect to plant roughly 25 trees and to finalize species and logistics in the coming months.