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Politics & Government

COW Quick Story: Ash Borers a Threat to Public Safety; Passionate Arguments on A-Frame Signs

Emerald Ash Borer situation in Geneva is worse than anyone might have thought. And those little A-frame signs in front of stores have become a big issue in Geneva.

There was plenty on the agenda for Committee of the Whole discussion Monday night, but two topics dominated discussion: the Emerald Ash Borer issue and the city sign code—specifically the Plan Commission's recommendation to ban A-frame signs from downtown sidewalks.

Emerald Ash Borer

The bottom line is that the ash-borer problem is far more serious than many of us realize. There are about 2,100 ash trees left in Geneva parkways, and almost all, if not all of them, are going to die.

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That's not hyperbole.

Ash trees are dying faster than the city can cut them down, pull out the stumps, grind them up, replace the dirt and seed the ground.

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There are four city employees working on the ash-tree removal, and at peak performance, they can get 500 trees done in a year. That's four years—and that's too much time, officials say, because there is a growing public-safety concern.

The city has to come up with some cost-effective solutions, and there are a number of ideas on the table. Several options include charging more to residents, either through a special services area, a referendum or tacking on a charge to your city bill.

Amendments to the Sign Ordinance

The Committee of the Whole tabled discussion for two weeks, following passionate testimony from downtown business owners who said disallowing A-frame signs would be a devastating blow.

"In the end, it will hurt businesses, and it will hurt at a time when most businesses in town can’t afford to be hurt," Little Traveler and Merra-Lee co-owner Mike Simon said. "Those of us on the front lines know the reality. We don’t need another impediment right now.” 

That's the quick story. More to come.

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