Village should fight to save ash trees

The Village of Arlington Heights Monday night continued with their stance of not expending any village funds for treating ash trees to combat emerald ash borer. More than 33 percent of the village’s tree canopy is ash. While both board and staff kept saying they are “combating EAB” through the current policy, it is nothing more than a salvage operation.

Trees are removed (and will be replaced) when infested or dead due to EAB under the current program and nothing is being done to actually combat the pest. Materials DO exist that are nearly 100 percent effective in the control of EAB and residents are urged to pay to have their ashes injected.

Some areas of Arlington Heights have blocks and blocks of nothing but ash trees. All those trees will die leaving once canopied streets barren unless residents treat their trees. Pink ribbons have been attached to ash trees on the north side of town to increase awareness of the magnitude of the problem. Residents should immediately investigate contractors to inject their trees this spring, otherwise those trees will be removed due to EAB.

Trees are a village’s only asset that actually appreciates -- as a tree gets older, it gets more valuable. Large canopied trees provide more benefits than small replacement trees and it those larger trees that must be saved. While the village will continue to remove ash trees it is time for the residents of Arlington Heights to step up and save their ashes.

Scott Jamieson

Arlington Heights