Paddock Lake to help residents get rid of infested trees

The Village of Paddock Lake has implemented a program to assist residents in removing trees infested by the emerald ash borer.
The Village of Paddock Lake has implemented a program to assist residents in removing trees infested by the emerald ash borer.

They may apply for financial assistance in battle against emerald ash borer

By Gail Peckler-Dziki

Correspondent

The Village of Paddock Lake has implemented a cost-sharing program to aid residents to get rid of trees infested with the emerald ash borer.

The Ash Tree Removal Assistance program is funded with monies that were unspent and carried over from general and reserve funds from previous years.

In several weeks, information about the borer and the fund program applications will be available at the village hall, located at 6969 236th Ave in Paddock Lake.

In about a month, the application and information regarding the insect will be available on the village website, paddocklake.net.

“Paddock Lake is the only municipality in the state to provide such aid,” said                   village administrator Tim Popanda, “and it’s because of the forward thinking board.”

A 2007 tree inventory, taken when the village became aware of the emerald ash borer threat, found 174 ash trees within road right of ways and park lands.

There are nearly 1,400 ash trees on private property, owned by residents.

“The village has been putting money aside since 2013 when village staff confirmed the presence of EAB in the village,” Popanda said. “So money is available to pay for the village to remove trees on village property. We will also be able to help residents defray 50 percent of the cost of removing two trees that are dead, dying or infested.”

The village’s maximum payout limit is $1,000 per household.

The compensation would occur after the resident has paid the bill for the tree removal.

Paddock Lake was declared a “Tree City” in 1998 and the board wishes to maintain the quality and beauty that large numbers of trees bring to the village.

The village brochure, “Emerald Ash Borer, Resident Guide,” includes instructions on re-greening Paddock Lake after the insect infestation.

It encourages the planting of native trees with native seed sources to ensure that the trees have the right characteristics and genetics to cope with local weather patterns.

The brochure also identifies ash trees and just what the borer-infested trees would look like.

The Village Tree Commission, an advisory body to the village board, will administer the assistance funds.

The Village Tree Commission encourages a planned and orderly approach to the management of the village urban forest, which includes all the trees within the village. It also reviews, evaluates and makes recommendations to the Village Board on proposals, requests, policies and management.

 


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