Canton debates enforcement, identification and assistance after ash tree dead-declaration

The Canton City Commission discussed enforcement and next steps after declaring ash trees a public-health and safety hazard.

The chief reported the city mailed numerous notices and received strong compliance overall but said a "handful" — three to four owners — had not removed dead or infested ash trees. "We've sent out numerous letters in reference to this... We've got some requests for some extensions, and also, we've got some folks that are having difficulty coming up with the funds to pay for this issue," the chief said.

Commissioners and staff debated how best to identify the remaining trees and enforce removal. Several members urged the city to contract professional help to identify infected ash trees and suggested pairing identification with a bid process for removal. One commissioner proposed having city staff or a contractor do a block-by-block canvas to mark affected trees and then provide owners three weeks to complete removal once identified.

Commissioners discussed practicalities such as whether the city could pay for identification work, rely on local contractors, or reach out to state experts (John Boyle was suggested as a contact). The commission moved to authorize city staff to identify remaining trees, notify owners, and proceed with a short removal window after identification; the motion carried on roll call.

Officials said they will pursue contractor leads, consider limited time extensions when justified, and seek cost estimates to help homeowners who report financial hardship. The commission also signaled preference to avoid overly lenient deadlines for those who were informed earlier but failed to act.

Next steps: staff will arrange tree-identification work, compile contractor options and cost estimates, serve notices to remaining property owners, and implement a three-week compliance window following identification.