Village Board Adopts Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
The Village of Roselle is currently treating 635 publicly owned ash trees as part of an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan officially adopted by the Village Board. These trees, which represent approximately a third of the publicly owned ash trees in the Village, are being chemically treated with soil drench and trunk injection imidacloprid treatments by certified arborists from Emerald Tree Care.
Following the confirmation of the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Roselle last year, a "stem by stem" tree inventory was conducted to provide data for the development of an EAB management plan. Representatives from Graf Tree Care, a St. Charles based company that employs certified arborists who specialize in conducting tree inventories and developing EAB management plans, visited every tree on Village owned property to collect data, including tree species and condition of the tree.
Of the 1,774 publicly owned ash trees in the Village, the 635 selected for treatment were identified as having the highest condition ratings, highest location values, and the lowest risk for failure after treatment. These ash trees are the healthiest, and therefore, the most cost-efficient trees to treat. The Village has already removed 96 publicly owned ash trees that were severely infested with EAB and contained large numbers of EAB larvae, poised to emerge in June. Their removal was done to slow the infestation of healthy ash trees in Roselle, allowing more time for those who wish to treat their ash trees to protect them from EAB.
The location of the publicly owned ash trees included in the treatment group is available is posted on the Village's website at www.roselle.il.us, and the treated trees have been tagged with an aluminum marker. The public ash trees on Village property and in the parkway (typically located between the street/curb and the sidewalk) not slated for treatment will be removed as they decline.
The ash tree treatment program involves a multi-year effort that will cost the Village $26,926 during the first year. At an average of $42 per year to treat each of the ash trees in the treatment group, it is estimated that if left untreated, the eventual removal of these trees would cost over $1,000 per tree. While many surrounding communities are opting not to treat any of their ash trees, the Village Board recognizes that trees are a part of the infrastructure in Roselle, and made preserving the tree canopy a priority. EAB has been identified in all of the communities that surround Roselle. Estimates call for all untreated ash trees to be killed by EAB within seven years. Reforestation efforts following ash tree removals are yet to be determined.
Residents should be aware that Village ordinances do not allow anyone other than the Village or a person hired by the Village to treat, trim, remove or otherwise disturb a publicly owned tree or shrub on any street or other public property without first filing an application and procuring a permit from the Public Works Department. Residents who would like to treat a publicly owned parkway ash tree in front of their home that is not included in the 635-tree treatment group must first submit an Emerald Ash Borer Chemical Treatment Application.
The Village will not inventory or survey trees on private property, but residents may elect to hire a certified arborist to assist them with tree concerns on their property. Additionally, Village ordinances that regulate tree infestations allow the Village Forester to enter private property to inspect trees. If the Village Forester determines that a tree is infested with EAB, it will be declared a public nuisance. Upon notification, homeowners will have 14 days to remove and chip the tree. If the tree is not removed or treated after the 14-day period, the Village will remove the tree and bill the homeowner.
For more information, visit the Village of Roselle website or contact Village Forester Mike Schulz at (630) 671-2368. For more information about Graf Tree Care (www.graftreecare.com) or Emerald Tree Care (www.ashborer.com), please visit their websites.