Council tables amended emerald ash borer plan after debate over costs and homeowner impact

City staff told the Lennox City Council the emerald ash borer (EAB) has been present in the area since 2024 and the city has removed roughly 650 public ash trees in parks and rights-of-way. Staff presented an amended EAB management plan that would ask the council later to declare ash trees a nuisance, a step intended to allow code enforcement to require removal on private property.

Staff said the city will spend 2026 on public education, with outreach including a public meeting featuring an arborist from South Dakota State University. The plan contemplates further assessments and removals next year, and staff included estimated costs in the materials presented to council.

Council members raised concerns about affordability for homeowners and explored ways to reduce individual costs, including a community-wide RFP to secure a contractor to remove many trees at scale, voluntary special-assessment financing to spread costs over 10–15 years, and a limited tree-rebate program tied to grant applications for urban forestry. One council member noted the city paid for recent removals, which totaled about $45,000 for roughly 150 trees in prior work, and emphasized that private-backyard removals will be costlier.

After extensive discussion about special assessments, contractor bidding processes, treatment vs. removal trade-offs and enforcement logistics, the council voted to table the EAB item for further study and asked staff to return with more details at the April 27 meeting. Staff and council agreed further work is needed on the scope, financing options, and enforcement mechanisms before the council would declare private trees a nuisance.