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De Witt advisory committee readies Arbor Day planting, pollinator booklet and annual cleanups after Tree City USA award
Summary
The De Witt Advisory Committee reviewed Arbor Day planting plans, a pollinator brochure, an upcoming “birthday” cleanup and volunteer outreach after receiving the Tree City USA recognition; members also discussed coordination with the tree committee and the town board.
The De Witt Advisory Committee reviewed plans for its Arbor Day event, street-tree plantings with local schools and the annual community cleanup following the town’s recent Tree City USA recognition.
Committee members said they expect Arbor Day planting to align with school schedules and discussed buying bare-root trees to fit a narrow planting window. The committee also said it plans to finish a pollinator booklet and a brochure on street trees to replace the newsletter that previously distributed that information.
The group confirmed one of the spring volunteer events — the annual “birthday” cleanup for the firehouse area — will probably fall in late April (one participant suggested April 26 as a likely date). The committee noted it needs more volunteers each year and discussed outreach to local school groups and coaches to help supervise student crews during pickups.
Members said last year’s cleanup collected several tons of discarded material, including tires, and noted the town and county have worked to close repeated illegal dump sites. They also discussed coordinating with highway crews and the transfer station on disposal logistics.
The committee discussed coordination with the Tree Committee on topics such as treatment versus placement for declining street trees and follow-up on a “no-mow” buffer zoning approach observed in other communities. Members asked staff to circulate a written list of 2024 accomplishments as an attachment to the minutes and to present that summary to the town board so board members are not surprised by future DAC presentations.
Finally, the committee set a schedule to follow up on volunteer and supply needs for Earth Day and the Arbor Day planting, and agreed to revisit outreach efforts to recruit high-school and college volunteers at the next meeting.
Ending: The committee will continue planning at its next meeting and circulate the 2024 accomplishments list and specific volunteer/sign-up instructions ahead of the spring events.
