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Council reviews emerald ash borer proposal; no immediate action as members weigh costs and options
Summary
A proposal from Aspen Horticulture Solutions to inventory and assess ash trees on private property was discussed; council members agreed to research options and potentially address the issue during budget planning.
The Beresford City Council reviewed a proposal from Aspen Horticulture Solutions to inventory ash trees on private property and to assess potential emerald ash borer mitigation options.
The proposal described an initial inventory that would identify ash trees not in the public right-of-way, report tree condition and provide a prioritized list for treatment or removal. Meeting discussion placed the initial inventory cost at about $35,000; participants described that treatment costs vary by tree size (one estimate noted about $300 per tree for treatment) while removal could cost in the order of $1,000 to several thousand dollars per tree depending on size.
Council members said they did not want to rush into an immediate contract. Several noted local staff expertise (Kelly Heesha, director of the arts department with horticulture training) could reduce outsourcing costs; members also discussed reviewing how neighboring communities handled the issue. The council asked staff to research options, check other vendors and consider reserving funds during the next budget process if the council decides to move forward.
No formal contract or procurement award was approved Monday; the council said the item will return for further review at a future meeting.
