We don't need a tax increase to spend $70,000 spraying the trees. That is ridiculous and extortionate. Only a wildly irresponsible administration would fail to protect an asset that is so critical to the source of their revenue, property taxes.
Riverside Info » About Riverside
Our Trees
(26 posts)-
Posted Wednesday Aug 6, 2008 18:54 #
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Right on the money, Catherine. To repeat:
From the Landmark article. "Collins also said the cool, wet spring has helped Dutch elm disease spread in 2008. After losing only some 30 trees to Dutch elm in all of 2007, Riverside has already lost around 55 in 2008 and is on pace for another year like 2005, when Riverside lost 87 elms.
Collins urged residents to help renew the tree stock by participating in the village's cooperative tree planting program, where residents and the village share the cost of planting trees in the public parkway.
"Trees are a renewable resource," Collins said. "Although invasive insects pose a threat, if we get out and plant some trees, we'll have those for future generations to enjoy."
Mike Collins wants to boost species diversity to help protect us from catastrophic plagues in the future. We should help with that - the trees are a vitally important asset, yet forestry is the stepchild - the poor relation when it comes to priorities. We need to change that. Hopefully whoever is elected next April will see how important this is. That is all the trees - those in the parks and triangles, the parkways and on private property. If the Ash Borer gets hear we have more than 700 trees at risk, and right now that means cutting. With 3000 (roughly) housing units in town, imagine what just $100 per would do. That would plant a minimum of new 1500 trees. Think of what a legacy that would be for those that come after us.
Posted Wednesday Aug 6, 2008 22:18 # -
Yes, that's what I call going green. Trees also cut carbon dioxide and add oxygen to the air. They further reduce carbon emissions by cutting your need for power for heat or cooling, owing to their insulating properties.
It is unfortunate there is not one dollar of our tax money that goes to planting trees aside from the spending the residents initiate in the cooperative matching program. When you recall we sat in a meeting where software and an aide were hired for the rec program, and a director for the museum, you can see this is not a lack of funds, but of priorities.
Posted Thursday Aug 7, 2008 09:10 # -
Spatny, I am going to send a donation to the RBHS Tree Bank. I take it there are folks there to receive mail in the summer?
How is it decided where the trees will be planted?
Posted Wednesday Aug 27, 2008 09:14 # -
Checks can be sent to RBHS Tree Bank, c/o Dave Monti, the mentor of the Ecology Club, at RBHS. At last night's Board Meeting there they commented on the loss of a big elm right in front of the school (to Dutch Elm disease) and a couple smaller trees that had to be removed because of construction space. I wrote today to two of the organizers of the Class of 1958 reunion to urge them to donate to the fund that will replace those trees, and I will match whatever they contribute up to $2500. It is disgraceful that we don't have a commitment by the Board to plant more trees, regardless of what the residents contribute, but it just isn't a priority item for them. I remember when the Village Manager was trying to give an additional $80,000 (roughly) to the TIF consultants but public outcry convinced the Board to turn that down, at the last minute. They don't seem to understand that it's not that people won't give the money, they just don't want to give it to this Board and VM because they don't agree with their priorities and don't trust them. I started the Tree Bank concept so contributions could go to the Eco club at the school, and then they could be involved in the planting, and suggest the locations they will pay for.
Posted Wednesday Aug 27, 2008 23:11 # -
Yes, but we need a tax increase apparently to spray the gypsy moth. Well, priorities.
The Landmark has an excellent editorial on the need for the village to unilaterally plant trees, and remarks that participation in the cooperative program is low. If so, I wonder if some of these matching funds could be released for matches to plant trees on public spaces or unilateral planting.
Posted Friday Aug 29, 2008 01:55 #
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