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Milbank awards tree-removal and treatment contracts, funds EAB mitigation; council to pilot biological spray
Summary
The council accepted Nick’s Tree Service bids for three-year EAB removal ($29 per diameter inch, annual cap $100,000) and treatment ($9 per diameter inch, annual cap $90,000), allocated $200,000 in bond funds for EAB mitigation planning, and asked staff to run small pilot plots to evaluate a biological product (Biomentum).
The Milbank City Council on April 13 awarded three-year contracts to Nick’s Tree Service for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) work and allocated bond funds to support mitigation planning. The accepted removal bid is $29 per diameter inch (DBH at 4.5 feet) with an annual cap of $100,000; the accepted treatment bid is $9 per diameter inch with an annual cap of $90,000. Council conditions require contractors to prevent property damage, address rutting, and complete site restoration.
In presentations before the vote, Duane Hasted of EverGuard Tree Solutions promoted a biological spray called Biomentum Tree Care Solution as a non-chemical option; the presenter said, "Biomentum is effective beyond ash trees, having been used to address hackberry decline, crabapple diseases, lilac issues, and evergreen conditions such as rhizosphaera needle cast." River Bottom Tree Service's Josh Wollschlager and Nick Anspach of Nick’s Tree Service also spoke. The council decided to keep state-recommended injections (per Dr. Ball) as the primary treatment while directing parks staff to establish small-scale trial plots to evaluate the biological approach before any broader integration.
Council also clarified that while the contractor offered to make the treatment price available to private residents, there is currently no formal city-private partnership; staff said private-liaison details would be worked out if residents choose contractor services.
