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Hawarden staff present DNR tree inventory; council asked to budget $50,000 to tackle ash‑tree losses
Summary
An Iowa DNR inventory showed 23 trees needing immediate removal, 116 dead or dying, and 447 ash trees in city rights-of-way and parks. Staff requested $50,000 in the budget for contractor removals and plan to seek replanting grants; work on 23 urgent trees will begin next week.
City staff presented results from an Iowa Department of Natural Resources inventory of city‑owned trees and recommended budgeting contractor work to address large numbers of ash trees and other hazardous specimens.
Travis summarized the inventory: “We ended up with 23 trees that needed to be removed right away and 116 dead and dying trees that need to be removed soon,” he said. The inventory identified 447 ash trees, down from about 660 six years ago; staff have removed roughly 183 ash trees since then.
Travis recommended the council include $50,000 in the coming budget to hire a contractor to remove as many trees as possible each year and keep ahead of the emerald ash borer–related losses. He said crews will start on the 23 urgent removals next week and that staff are preparing grant applications to fund replanting.
Council members discussed whether the city’s ordinance governing parkway/right‑of‑way trees needs revision to track planting and maintenance responsibility. Staff noted that once a tree in the right‑of‑way dies, the city becomes responsible for removal and liability. The item was presented as a discussion; no formal policy change was adopted at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will begin the urgent removals, include the $50,000 request in the budget materials, and return with grant‑application updates and any proposed ordinance language for council consideration.
