Tree Board

Tree Board Minutes August 25, 2014 Attending: Kara Hurst, Katherine Payne, Dan Brown, Dave Barnett, Vaike Haas, Marchetta Maupin. The meeting was called to order at 4:40p. The June minutes will be available for review at the September meeting. Unfinished Business: 1. Decker’s Creek Trees at Marilla Park: Preserving the trees on the stream bank is the stated goal. Bartlett Tree Experts were consulted, and a letter of recommendation was sent from the Tree Board to City Manager Jeff Mikorski. The City has sent the information to WV Radio Corp for their review but no response to date. V. Haas suggested using large, pruned sycamore limbs for the stream bank stabilization. FODC (Friends of Decker’s Creek) and WVU Hydrologist N. Zegre will be contacted for input by V. Haas, who will follow with a recommendation. D. Barnett will contact Downstream Strategies for area contractors. 2. September 27th is Morgantown’s designated Arbor Day. Following M. Maupin’s recommendation, D. Brown proposed the site along the steps leading up to Richwood Avenue. M. Maupin pointed out the need for city property lines and they will be determined next week via a site visit from a city engineer and M. Maupin. D. Brown will contact Bob Hannah with the date and time of the event. Further discussion highlighted the stressed trees in front of the Book Exchange as a potential site if Richwood does not work. 3. A request from groups of volunteers wishing to plant trees will be forwarded to Jon Weems/WVU Arboretum and Erin Smaldone/WVBG for interest follow-up. The YOTT (Year of the Tree) committee has been contacted for outreach in our community, raising awareness for Morgantown’s Urban Forest. Due to their interest, V. Haas suggested her graduate student may take the coordination of this education arm of the Tree Board and could get in touch with A. Payne, chair of the committee, for a project plan. New Business:  1. Mon Power Forester Matt Cummins met with M. Maupin, D. Barnett and Acting City Engineer, D. Davis. D. Barnett will give a tree list to Mon Power M. Cummins. Davey Tree Company is contracted and currently at work in the area. 2. Bartlett Tree Experts have presented their estimates for tree care and pruning on Pleasant, Walnut, High Streets and Jack Roberts Park. Copies were available for Tree Board members. M. Maupin cited additional trees in need due to the winter. Suggestion was made to include BoParc in the plans as they oversee Jack Roberts Park. M. Maupin will email the Bartlett estimates to Boparc and invite them to attend a meeting with the Tree Board for discussion. V. Haas recommended WVU’s Horticulture Professor Dr. D. Davis in assistance to the Tree Board for working meetings. 3. An update was made of silver maples along Junior Avenue and the progress between Public Works and property owners. 4. High Street Trees were surveyed by Bartlett Tree Experts and stressed maples were identified to M. Maupin. The wires on the tree in front of the Thai restaurant will be removed by W. Breiding. 5. The Tree Board will need to evaluate the grates surrounding the Gingko trees in front of the Morgantown Public Library to determine the status of debris accumulation. Open Discussion: K. Hurst relayed B. Bailey’s interest in the Tree Board raising its voice in support of the Urban Forest, the importance of preserving Green Spaces in the county and partnering with other area organizations. All Tree Board members present were interested in follow-up. City Council Report by N. Ganz: Ms. Ganz was not present. D. Brown moved to adjourn at 6:05p, D. Barnett made the 2 nd. All in favor. Respectfully submitted, K. Payne, Acting Secretary