Miami Valley styles
Cold weather arrives
'Tis the Season Festival
Tipp City implements ash borer policy
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
TIPP CITY — After discovering the emerald ash borer at a business, the city is implementing an emerald ash borer policy and stepping up education efforts.
The City Council on Monday reviewed a proposed policy to check the more than 360 ash trees identified already in public parks and city right of way each May and September. Ash trees on private property would be the responsibility of the property owner to inspect, treat, remove or retain.
Extras
Scott Vagedes, city engineer, told council the first emerald ash borer infestation was found this summer in a tree at the Meijer Distribution Center off County Road 25A.
The city learned of the infestation when a city employee was notified in an e-mail from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that Tipp City was added to the state map showing where the deadly borers have been located.
Miami County already was under a state-imposed quarantine after emerald ash borers were found in a tree at the Piqua rest area along Interstate 75 last year. The quarantine prohibits the moving of ash tree materials and hardwood firewood out of infested counties. Also on the quarantine list are Montgomery, Warren and Butler counties.
The proposed Tipp City emerald ash borer management plan states:
The city will not plant new ash trees and will ask residents to refrain from planting ash trees
The Planning Board will not allow use of ash trees in any landscaping plan subject to board review
The city will remove any ash trees in the right of way or on city-owned properties which are confirmed as infested. Replacement trees will be non-host species
Residents will be urged to monitor the emerald ash borer movement and establish a relationship with a certified arborist in the event that ash tree evaluation, treatment or removal is needed in the future
More information on the emerald ash borer is available in Tipp City at the Government Center, 260 S. Garber Drive, or from the state at 1-888-OHIO-EAB or www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab.
Contact this reporter at (937) 335-4357 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.
