HomeMy WebLinkAboutTree Board Minutes 09.07.2023Minutes
City of Laurel
Tree Board
9/07/23
Council Conference Room
Attending: Matt Wheeler, Michelle Mize, Paul Kober, Walt Widdis, Bridget Coleman, LuAnne
Engh
1. Public Input
2. General Items
a. August Minutes approved
b. Arbor Day funds: City $776 Laurel Foundation: $925
c. Arbor Day 2024: Tuesday May 7th Kiwanis Park
d. Logo and Theme - Shelly Didyoung from New Life is asking her students for designs
e. State of our Arbor Day trees -
South Pond —
a. The Baptist school Amur Maple needs some trimming and more bark
b. Hackberry is totally gone and should be removed — We should replace it next
Spring in a different location.
Thompson Park -
a. One Honey Locust east of the shelter is struggling— might need fertilizer
f. MUCFA — should Laurel join? It was decided to have the city apply for a
membership. LuAnne will get a PO from Matt and send that in to the state office.
g. Why have a tree board? LuAnne shared a form (MUCFA) that states Tree Boards:
• Advocate - Community Forestry and public trees
• Get work done—Tree inventory, tree planting and education
• Bring in Resources — grants, private donation, fundraisers
• Reduce conflicts — offer a forum for property owner complaints
• Help raise awareness — educating the public on the importance of trees
• Improve Urban forest — all activities result in improved community forest
h. City Tree Maintenance - $9400 was spent to remove two giant cottonwoods at
Riverside park ... the wood if available for hauling. On East Maryland $4500 was
spent on cleaning up a line of Elm trees. We should look at what should be done
with these trees since they need yearly trimming and embedded in asphalt.
3. New Business
a. New trees for the library — Billings Bright n Beautiful has purchased a tree at
Sylvan Nursery in memory of Jean Carrol Thomson Crimson King Norway Maple
— dark red leaves — rounded shape — 30' tall at maturity
b. Laurel purchased a second tree ($260) for the library to match and balance the
boulevard — a Bowhall Maple — light green leaves — 40' at maturity These will be
planted Wednesday, October 4t
c. Matt said a Spring crab tree fell over at the Chamber Park. It was a memorial
tree and has a plaque. We will replace that tree with another Spring Crab next
Spring, so the tree more time to acclimate.
d. Bridget mentioned a project for 3rd graders to help clean up leaves in a park and
then have cocoa sponsored by the Tree Board. LuAnne will talk to Lynn at Graff
School.
e. Fertilizing and watering — Matt has been watering the trees at Riverside with the
250 gallon water tank. It has helped keep them going without any other
irrigation. Even with generous rain this year, trees need weekly watering.
LuAnne asked Aaron Christenson about fertilizing and he said the professional
charge $10/caliper inch. It might be something to consider for smaller trees that
struggle.
f. Matt said the city has money for underground sprinklers in Kiwanis Park -
$87,000 — The park is the only one left that doesn't have automatic watering.
g. Tree Education — with the new south side 4th Street boulevards, the property
owners will need to be notified the trees are their responsibility. Hopefully they
are planted this Fall and will have a one year warranty. We need to send letters
or deliver flyers to the owners to explain their responsibility. LuAnne will search
for the letter we sent out for 8' Ave boulevards.
h. Fall Tree Care— LuAnne wanted to see an article in the Outlook about how to
care for your trees in the Fall — when to stop watering, prep against deer,
fertilizing, etc. She will ask Jackie Webb to help with an article.
4. Old Business
a. DNRC grant — Matt says we should qualify this year. Michelle said she would
help with the application this year
5. Other Items
a. Volunteer hours — Keep your hours for all meetings, time spent on Arbor Day or any
other project as this helps when applying for grants.
Next meeting: Thursday, October 5th, 4:30 Council Conference room