Moraine staff says city’s Tree City USA application submitted; about 34 trees removed in two neighborhoods

An unidentified city staff member told the Moraine City Council that the city submitted its 2025 Tree City USA application on Dec. 1, 2025, with Mayor Murphy signing the paperwork.

The staff member said the application required listing tree board members and their email addresses and that council members received an email that morning about the submission. The application was reviewed by a regional manager named Wendy, resubmitted early that morning and had moved to the state level; the staff member said the Arbor Day Foundation will make the final award and the city expects the official announcement in late January or early February. The staff member said Moraine is seeking recognition as a Tree City USA for 15 years.

The presentation also addressed recent tree removals. “There’s about 34 trees that had to be removed,” the speaker said, describing removals in the Fulton and Ellery neighborhoods where roots had begun buckling sidewalks and threatening utilities. The staff member framed the work as a balance between preserving trees and avoiding long-term infrastructure damage, saying repairs to lifted sidewalks would be costly over time.

The city offered mitigation information to affected residents, including programs that provide free or low‑cost replacement trees; the staff member said Montgomery County and other local programs have helped with replanting. The speaker also credited the tree board, council members and local volunteers — including people named Kelly and Brent — for supporting Arbor Day activities and related work that helps the city qualify for Tree City recognition.

The council was told to expect emails about future Tree City submissions as part of the application process. The city did not announce any formal vote or policy change during the discussion.

The item closed after the staff member invited questions; none were recorded.