Money for trees

By Doug Page | Friday, January 5, 2007, 08:05 AM

Faced with the prospect of losing all of its ash trees to the emerald ash borer, Piqua has received some unexpected help.

An anonymous donor pitched in $25,000 to set up a fund to assist private property owners in replacing trees.

Cities in Michigan — where the infestation originated — have spent millions of dollars to remove dead and dying ash trees in attempt to control the spread of the pest.

Early last year, the ash borer was discovered in ash trees at the southbound Interstate 75 rest area just south of the city. This fall, the city recommended property owners start cutting down their ash trees.

Currently, there is no known predator of the borer, a native of northern China. The pest was first discovered in the Detroit area in the 1990s and is now found in at least five states.

Piqua officials are in the process of finishing up a control plan. So far, no borers have been reported in the city. The city will have to find money in the budget to remove trees on public property. Infested trees on private property will be the responsibility of the owner — hence the fund.

“This is just one more example of how well this city responds to needs,” City Manager Fred Enderle said. “It was a totally unsolicited, anonymous donation.”

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