City Gears Up to Continue Fight Against Emerald Ash Borer

The battle against Emerald Ash Borers continues in St. Charles.

The St. Charles Government Operations Committee approved a contract worth up to $500,000 with Skyline Tree Service for removing 1,000 trees infected by the insect in St, Charles. To combat the spread of the bug, the city removed nearly 1,500 affected ash trees and applied preventive treatment to about 500 trees. There are about 4,000 ash trees found in St. Charles parkways, with another 10,000 to 15,000 on private property.

“This is our 16^th straight month we’ve been discussing this,” Peter Suhr, the city public works division manager, told the aldermen Tuesday night.

Ash trees on private property infected by the Emerald Ash Borer are the property owners responsibility, Suhr said. If an ash tree on private property is infected by the beetle and is deemed a public nuisance, the public works department will notify the owner, who will in turn have 30 days to remove the tree, or by the next flight season of the EAB. The city definition of a tree or plant that is a public nuisance is any tree or shrub on private property that may create an imminent danger to the general public. If a tree is infected with the borer it is automatically considered a public nuisance, Suhr said.

Alderman Raymond Rogina if there was any mechanism in place to expedite a hearing in case a resident does not respond to the order to remove a tree deemed a public nuisance.

Suhr said the city has not yet had to send any written notices to home owners about an infected tree.

Alderman Rita Ann Payleitner asked what constitutes a nuisance. Payleitner said she has an acquaintance who has a large expanse of property that includes an ash tree infected by the borer. She said if the tree falls there is no danger of it hitting anyone. Was the nuisance language included due to the danger of the tree falling on someone else’s property, or to prevent the spread of the borer, she asked?

Suhr said the language was written primarily to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer first, with safety being a secondary concern.

Several alderman pointed out that removing a tree can be an expensive process for a citizen. They asked if Skyline Tree Service could work out a special rate with residents if they were removing trees in their neighborhood at the same time.

Suhr said the city could “open a conversation” with Skyline, but did not know how that would be doable due to the way the company schedules tree removal.