$72,000 For Emerald Ash Borer Replacement Trees In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL -- The Village of Plainfield will pay $72,000 this spring to replace trees stricken by the emerald ash borer.

Trustees on Monday approved a deal to purchase 200 parkway trees from the Suburban Tree Consortium. Superintendent of Public Improvements Randy Jessen said the village has been part of the consortium for "numerous years" in its fight to eradicate the invasive species and replace affected trees.

In 2015, the village paid $100,000 to remove 1,800 infected trees, according to the Times Weekly. That's double the number that were removed in 2014. The insects burrow their way through trees, weakening and killing them.

READ: Emerald Ash Borer Dilemma: Remove Trees or Treat Them?

Each year, the village sets aside about $100,000 to replace parkway ash trees that have been removed.

RELATED: Emerald Ash Borer Still a Fight in Will County

Photo: An emerald ash borer beetle. — U.S. Department of Agriculture, used with permission via Creative Commons license