Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Forestry Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ironton council approves application for urban forestry grant to replace storm-damaged trees
Summary
The Ironton City Council passed Resolution 25-18 authorizing the city to apply for an Ohio Urban Forestry Grant (Inflation Reduction Act) to replace trees lost in windstorms and plant new street trees; the city plans to request $90,000 of a $100,000 maximum and will not be required to provide matching funds.
The Ironton City Council on March 27 approved Resolution 25-18 authorizing the city to submit an application for an Ohio Urban Forestry Grant under the Inflation Reduction Act, with staff planning to request $90,000 of a $100,000 maximum award.
The grant application targets replacement of trees lost during recent windstorms, planting in redevelopment areas including portions of Third Street, and work around the Anvila and nearby wetlands, according to Ralph Klein, the city’s CAO. Klein told the council there is no matching-fund requirement for the program and the city would show leveraged funds from its annual budget and interim investments.
Klein said the project would cover planting and post-installation care. "We're applying for 90,000," he said. He also told the council the city would include funding to pay a crew to water and trim newly planted trees.
The resolution authorizes the mayor and city staff to file the application and accept any award. Council member Chris moved to pass the resolution; the motion carried in roll call with Graham, Cleary, Jamie and Harvey recorded as voting aye. The resolution paperwork in the packet describes the grant as competitive and noted the city learned of the funding opportunity on short notice.
City officials said the proposed work would reestablish the urban canopy in neighborhoods hit by storms, support redevelopment areas, and help stabilize planting in wetland-adjacent corridors. Klein said staff also hopes to use existing city crews or contracted help for post-planting maintenance if the grant is awarded.
The council did not set a maintenance schedule in the meeting; Klein said staff will proceed with the application immediately because the deadline was imminent.
Next steps: staff will submit the application under the authorization approved by the council and report back on the outcome once the award decision is received.
