La Grange to Replace 315 Trees in 2013-14

The La Grange Village Board on Monday passed a resolution to allow replacement of more than 300 trees in La Grange that have been removed due to disease.

The village has participated in the Suburban Tree Consortium to jointly purchase and plant parkway trees, and has replanted about 111 trees per year in the past five years, according to a village staff memo.

But tree damage from Emerald Ash Borer will mean an increase in the number of trees to be planted over the next five years. Of the 369 trees that were removed this year, 12 were elm trees that were diagnosed with Dutch Elm Disease and 338 were removed because of EAB. 

The village plans to spend about $113,000 to replace 315 trees in 2013 and 2014. This year, the village plans to replant 10 trees as part of its routine replacement program and 95 trees to replace those removed due to EAB. In 2014, the village plans to plant 40 routine trees and 170 trees due to EAB, according to the memo. 

The village will use $110,000 in capital projects funds and a $3,000 grant for EAB reforestation from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus. The grant will cover 18 trees.