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Council approves citywide ash‑tree removal plan and funding boost from tree fund
Summary
The council chose a ‘take‑and‑replace’ approach for ash trees affected by emerald ash borer and authorized using nonlapsing tree‑fund dollars to supplement planting over 2014–2020.
The Superior Common Council on Oct. 15 approved a city forester recommendation to remove ash street trees and replace a portion of them over a multi‑year schedule, directing staff to use existing nonlapsing tree‑fund dollars to supplement the planting budget.
City Forester Mary Morgan recommended a “take‑and‑replace” strategy after outlining options for treating individual trees, selective removal or wholesale removal and replacement. The council approved a plan to remove ash trees across the city and fund replacement plantings from 2014 through 2020 at an approximate cost of $70,000, with the nonlapsing tree fund used to make up shortfalls.
Morgan told the council the city has roughly 3,000 ash trees in the public right‑of‑way and that the approved funding would support planting about 1,400 replacement trees over the planned period. Morgan also said the city would rely on its nuisance/hazard tree ordinance to require private owners to address hazardous ash trees when they pose a public threat.
Councilors debated whether to treat specimen corridors experimentally or proceed directly to full replacement. Councilor Ann Olson said testing treatments could be useful but that wholesale citywide replacement should not be delayed; councilors adopted a motion approving the take‑and‑replace approach and using the tree fund to supplement the planting budget.
No new ordinance changes were adopted at the Oct. 15 meeting; the council approved the funding approach and the multi‑year program and directed staff to proceed with replacement plantings and enforcement of existing tree‑and‑nuisance provisions where private trees present hazards.
Next steps: staff will implement removal and replanting beginning in 2014 and will notify private property owners where public safety concerns require action.
