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Council adopts six-year Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Plan after staff presentation
Summary
Administrator Steve Pendergrass presented a six-year Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Plan; council adopted the plan 5-0 and directed staff to prepare bid specifications. Milbank’s 2025 inventory lists about 1,650 ash trees (700 in parks/cemeteries); treatment costs estimated at about $10 per inch of trunk diameter.
Milbank’s City Administrator, Steve Pendergrass, reviewed a six-year Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Mitigation Plan at the March 9 meeting and the council adopted the plan by unanimous vote of the members present (5-0). Pendergrass told the council that Milbank’s 2025 tree inventory records approximately 1,650 ash trees across city-managed and public right-of-way areas, with roughly 700 located in parks and cemeteries. The plan schedules removal or treatment of roughly one-third of high-risk trees in the first year, with the second third treated or removed and later phases continuing removals and plantings.
Pendergrass summarized cost expectations: "Treating ash trees costs about $10 per inch of diameter," and noted treated trees commonly measure 24 to 40 inches; "For instance, treatment for a 40-inch tree would be about $400." Council voted to adopt the EAB Mitigation Plan for 2026–2032 and directed staff to complete bid specifications and advertise for tree removal work. The city will solicit contractor bids to establish accurate cost estimates and will manage smaller removals in-house while contracting large removals and treatments.
