Beautification & Tree Commission

Edwardsville Beautification and Tree Commission Minutes Meeting- August 29, 2017 Present: Zy Kinney, Wilma Jene Bond, Susan Bautsch, Barbara Giardina, Becky Standefer, Benna Denue, David Sirko, Larry Lipe, Kim Schoenfeld Absent: Bob Pfeiffer, Dennis Pluta, Tom Burns, Alderman Farrar Meeting called to order at 6:35 pm. Minutes from July 25, 2017 meeting approved with a motion by Larry Lipe and seconded by Benna Denue, with all in favor. Budget: David reported big ticket was for grounds maintenance and repairs including library beds, landscaping, clock tower, garden beds around town. Urban Forester money of $15,000 was split across different lines and wasn’t added above and beyond the original budget being $48,825.00. Greenside cleaned up clock tower gardens and removed all plants. Old Business: Welcome Sign update: All three signs should be finished in 2 -2 ½ months. Sign on parkway 143 and Troy Road sign scheduled in 4 weeks. Scheduling construction of columns in 4-5 weeks. Cleaning up scrub by guard rails by Schlemer and North Main street. Pizza Hut sign is getting mulch put down and black-eyed Susans are being planted. Article featuring the Welcome Signs for Edwardsville- website is not ready yet. David will touch base with the Intelligencer about writing an article. Urban Forester Update: Becky and Susan met and hunted through city ordinance for documentation about standards of practice and urban forestry practices. Talked to Tom Burns. Benna and Susan will talk to the mayor. David brought an Arbor-cultural Specification manual. Clock Tower Beds renovation schedule: Beds are cleaned out for now by Greenside. Should Tom be consulted with suggestions of what we’d like to see planted there? New budgets for projects begin in January. Benna visualizes one tree, possibly a red bud or a white bud. We could put trees in large pots and then move them later. 50/50 Tree Program: Larry and Barbara working together. There are 7 water bill routes over 5-6 weeks. Should paper bark maple be added to the list of trees? It has beautiful fall color but expensive. Barbara and Larry may put article in newspaper (Julia Briggs reporter) about 50/50 program. Trees can be memorials, in honor of human interests, weddings, etc. Would associations like Grandview subdivision be able to purchase a 50/50 tree? Downtown Fall & Winter Flower Pots: Planting scheduled for October 2 at 5:30 pm at City Hall. We will plant kale, purple millet, swiss chard, bronze mustard, celosia. Winter evergreens in pots must be zone 4 hardy. Articles featuring flower pots- no update Market dates are September 16 and October 7. Volunteer applications- talked to mayor’s secretary and will mention to the mayor. New Business- Tree Removal of tree planted by the city- Schwarz and Monroe street. Need bushes trimmed off of Schwarz sidewalk. Potential Tree project at Wastewater Treatment Plant – proposal to screen tanks and buildings with trees 20-25 feet tall because of power lines. Wetlands, normal rains. Meeting adjourned-7:50pm Next meeting- September 26, 2017 Respectfully submitted: Kim Schoenfeld