State grant will help rid Sylvania of 111 ash trees

10/19/2004

Sylvania City Council has approved accepting a grant of about $35,000 from the state to help pay for the removal of 111 ash trees on city right-of-way.

The trees are aging and particularly vulnerable to being infested by the emerald ash borer, which is fatal to ash trees, according to Art Landseadel, city forester.

Mr. Landseadel told council last night that it was likely that most or all ash trees in the city will eventually be infested by the beetle that has ravaged trees in several states.

He said that accepting the Ash Replacement Grant was an opportunity to receive some financial assistance now rather than eventually paying the total amount for ash tree removal.

The city, he said, would have to match the state grant and that his department will replace all of the trees with trees of another species. Mr. Landseadel said he had hoped to begin work this fall on removing the trees, but it is now more likely that the tree removal won't be done until spring.

The trees that will be taken down are on Longfellow Road and some other streets near Sylvan Elementary School, he said.

There are about 50 other ash trees on city property, and they will be dealt with on an individual basis, Mr. Landseadel said. He added that ash trees make up only about 2 percent of trees on city property.