Michael Pierce and Olivia Edwards, leaders of the Ironton Tree Commission, asked the City Council on Dec. 22 to formally recognize the commission by ordinance and to create a permanent budget line so the city can advance and be reimbursed for a $57,000 urban-forestry grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

"We are here to represent the Ironton Tree Commission," Michael Pierce said, describing the group’s purpose to help the city remove dangerous trees, improve tree canopy and support stormwater management. Olivia Edwards, the commission chair, said the grant — awarded on a reimbursement basis — will fund planting, pruning, certified arborist oversight, education and governance.

Edwards told the council the commission will work with the Ohio State Forestry Program and an assigned urban forester, and said planting and maintenance will be supervised by certified arborists or contracted nurseries. She said the grant period runs through 2029 and that reimbursements will be requested quarterly.

The commission asked the council to designate a responsible financial officer — typically the mayor in similar cities — and to create a dedicated fund so the city can advance project expenses and receive quarterly reimbursements from ODNR. Edwards gave a rough per-tree estimate, saying native trees typically cost "anywhere from $100 to $500" depending on species and nursery.

Councilmembers asked for a template ordinance and discussed rolling existing streetscaping funds into a dedicated account. Members indicated willingness to sponsor enabling legislation in January and to work with commission volunteers and city staff on the fund structure and ordinance language.

If the council approves the recognition and establishes a fund, the commission said it will collaborate with the assigned urban forester and certified arborists on site selection, planting standards and a maintenance plan to support tree survival and longevity.