Emerald Ash Borer Problem Called 'Natural Disaster' in Geneva

Almost every ash tree in Geneva is going to die in the next four years.

And before it's done, the is very likely going to cost you or your family cash, time, inury or heartbreak—either through a city fee, a downed power line, a falling tree limb or the deforresting of your lawn or parkway.

Sorry, but that's hard truth.

For the record and to their credit, no city official or supervisor banged a solumn death knell or said the word "crisis" at Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting. But the situation is serious.

Third Ward Alderman Dean Kilburg came closest ot capturing just how serious the problem is. (Please see the attached video.)

"What I'm trying to say is we have a natural disaster in our community," he said, "and we're not fully appreciating it yet."

Streets and Fleet Superintendent Steve LeMaire made the report to Geneva aldermen Monday without a hint of hype. "It might be a public safety issue that I'm kind of concerned about," he said.

LeMaire outlined the history of the city's defense against the ash borer since 2008. It's been a losing battle. Now the city has four full-time workers taking down parkway trees, removing and grinding the stumps and planting grass or trees in replacement. There are about 2,100 parkway trees left, and the trees are dying faster than the city can take them down.

At top pace, the city can remove about 500 trees a year—if the four city workers are pulled away to other urgent tasks, like .

"It really is a safety issue," said John Rice, a resident of Glengarry Drive. "There's some good examples on State Street across from the Citgo station ... It's just a matter of time before gravity gets one of these things."

First Ward Alderman Chuck Brown said the city needs to address two issues: public safety and aesthetics.

"Anderson Boulevard changed from a cathedral to a desert over night." Brown said. "It's amazing how quickly it turns from a tree that looks healthy to a tree that's just plain dead.

"I'd be in favor of any budget amendment we need to make to address that first problem," he added. "It's not just (a tree branch) falling on a car, it's not just falling on a person, it's not just power outages—it's all three," he said.

Some Options

Here are some suggestions outlined by city staff after a number of brainstorming sessions with staff, city officials and various city committee members.

• Continue the present program, as outlined in FY 2011-12 Street Division Goals.
• Add a contractor to assist with the removals specifically for the larger and more dangerous trees. (Not budgeted.)
• Add a contractor to assist with the stump restorations. (Not budgeted.)
• Apply all available funds toward removals to eliminate potential hazards to the public. Once all ash trees are removed, focus on tree replacement.
• Start a tree nursery at Prairie Green, where the will be located. (Not budgeted.) Kilburg has begun discussions with School District 304 to begin a class or public-service opportunity in which students would grow and plant replacement trees—a win-win for the district and the city.
• Start a 50/50 Tree Replacement Program, where a homeowner would split the cost with the city for a replacement tree in the parkway. ($300 for a 2 1/2-inch to 3-inch tree diameter, or $150 per homeowner.)
• Use smaller replacement trees (2 inches in diameter, which would cost a homeowner $100 per tree.)

Potential Funding Sources

• Postpone the Northcentral Trail project — $50,000 in the FY 2011-12 Budget
• Postpone Herrington Inn Plaza Wall Restoration — $20,000 in the FY 2011-12 Budget
• Create a Special Service Area for entire city to pay for ash borer removal and tree replacement
• Add a monthly fee on the utility bill (Based on 10,000 accounts, the city could generate about $1 million in revenue by charging $8.35 a month for one year, $4.20 a month for two years or $2.80 a month for three years.)
• Committee members also discussed the possibility of using some money that has accumuated through interest and saving in the Debt Service Fund. A budget amendment would be required to use those funds for the EAB eradication.

"I liked a lot of the options," 5th Ward Alderman Craig Maladra said. "But when we talk about trading Item A, if that doesn't make a dent in the Emerald Ash Borer (costs), then I'm not prepared to make that trade-off. No matter how we go about this, it will be a multiyear program. So we're going to have to ask residents for a certain amount of patience."

And that's apparently a tough pill for some of us to swallow.

"We are getting calls from residents that it's taking awhile to get the tree down," Public Works Director Dan Dinges said. "And when they hear they're not going to get a replacement tree for two or three years, they're not happy about that, either."

Download the movie