Tree Advisory Committee

CITY OF SHAWANO TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026 8:00 AM SHAWANO CITY HALL, 127 S. SAWYER STREET, SHAWANO **MEETING CANCELLED** 1) CALL TO ORDER 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3) ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS 4) APPROVAL OF PRIOR TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 5) CORRESPONDENCE 6) PUBLIC COMMENT If anyone is present and wishes to speak during public comment, they shall state their name and address for the record. Public comment participants shall be limited to 3 minutes of time to speak/present. Please note that Committee/Commission members do not typically engage with participants during this portion of the meeting. 7) REPORTS a) City Forester's report on Public and Private Trees b) Arbor Day discussion/potential Nature's Friend Award recipients c) Shrub Subcommittee report 8) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS At this time, Committee/Commission members may request to have items placed on the next meeting's agenda for discussion and/or action. 9) ADJOURNMENT * NEXT MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 2025 AT 8:00 AM DISABLED ACCESSIBLE (Contact City Clerk prior to meeting if require additional services.) Page 1 of 6 It is possible that members of and possibly a quorum of members of other governmental bodies of the municipality may be in attendance at the above-stated meeting to gather information; no action will be taken by any governmental body at the above-stated meeting other than the governmental body specifically referred to above in this notice. OPEN MEETING LAW COMPLIANCE This agenda was posted in 3 public places (City Hall, Premier Community Bank and the Shawano Library) as well as sent to local news media. Therefore, all laws regarding posting of agendas for open meeting law compliance have been met. Page 2 of 6  December 9, 2025 Shawano, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER • Meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS • Members Present: Ross Langhurst, Bob Dumke, and Jason Grimm. • Also Present: City Forester Mike Kroenke, Mayor Bruce Milavitz, Mike Mahloch and City Finance Director Brian Della. • Absent: Ben Thomas. APPROVAL OF AGENDA • Agenda was approved. APPROVAL OF PRIOR TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES • Prior minutes were approved. CORRESPONDENCE • Committee President Ross Langhurst reported that member Marilyn Kroenke has resigned and created a vacancy on the committee. Great thanks and admiration was expressed by those present for her tremendous contributions to the City and the Tree Advisory Committee. PUBLIC COMMENT • None. REPORTS • City Forester's Report on Public and Private Trees: Mike Kroenke then reported that the City had received a DNR grant for $23000 which will be matched by the City providing sufficient funding for upcoming projects. Mike Kroenke reported he will be attending an Arborist conference in Green Bay to earn recertification. Kroenke also reported identifying about 60 dead or hazardous trees for removal in 2026. • Shrub Subcommittee Report • City Planters Report • Discussion on Industrial Park ash tree removals and potential Management Plan for Industrial Park: Mayor asked for an update on the release of wasps in the industrial park area for the control of emerald ash beetles. • DNR Urban Forestry Grant • Finance Director Brian Della summarized the City's 2026 budget for the Forestry Dept. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS At this time, Committee/Commission members may request to have items placed on the next meeting's agenda for discussion and/or action. Page 1 of 2 Page 3 of 6 ADJOURNMENT • Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Robert Dumke NEXT MEETING DATE: JANUARY 13, 2025 AT 8:00 A.M. Page 2 of 2 Page 4 of 6  Summary of City of Shawano Forestry Work Activities Presented to the City of Shawano Tree Advisory Committee By Mike Kroenke-City Forester December 9, 2025 -I marked approximately 50 dead, dying and hazardous trees in the City of Shawano for removal. Most of these trees are ash trees although a number of the trees are red oaks dying or dead from oak wilt. I’ve been coordinating with Matt Hendricks and Tom Steffles regarding which trees the City Parks Department crew can remove this winter. These trees are typically easier to take out and not near high lines. This will save my limited budget for tree removals. These are a lot of hazardous trees to remove in the City of Shawano, mostly due to Emerald Ash Borer dieback. We do not have the money in our budget at this time to remove all these trees. -As an update, I met with Mike Mahloch and Josh Ladwig regarding hazardous trees that the DPW can remove with their crew. The DPW recently purchased one of the SMU bucket trucks and can now do some of this work including overhead branch removals on city streets. I still need to meet with Matt Hendricks regarding which trees the city parks crew can remove. The remainder of the hazardous trees identified will be removed through the normal bidding process which I hope to yet complete in December/early January. -After the September Committee meeting discussion, I have worked to develop and submit a 50/50 match DNR Urban Forestry Grant to provide the funds in 2026 to remove the dead/hazardous trees in question. The grant with resolution was submitted at the end of September 2025 and we are now waiting for potential approval. -As an update, I received a letter from the DNR Urban Forestry program that the City of Shawano has been awarded a $23,114.28, 50/50 match grant for 2026. The grant monies will be used to plant new trees and to remove identified hazardous trees. I’ll be working with the DPW and the Parks Department to identify species to plant and locations to plant and to coordinate tree removals. The grant requires considerable documentation whereby the City would receive reimbursements from the DNR once the work has been completed and the invoices paid by the City. -Eddie Sheppard referred me to a logger who is interested in removing the dead and dying ash trees in the Industrial Park. I’ve visited with Eddie Sheppard, City Administrator, Mike Mahloch, DPW Supervisory, and Matt Pleshek, City Engineer and who are in favor. I’ve met with the logger two times and have received a removal proposal from him. Once the Tree Advisory Committee reviews this proposal, I’m hoping to move forward with this salvage cut. Eddie Page 5 of 6 indicated to me that the funds could be used for the Tree budget for hazardous tree removals. I continue to work on hazardous tree removals with Mike Mahloch. I am now working on a tree removal bid list. -Mike Mahloch has engaged a consulting forester and has invited him to a Tree Advisory Committee meeting to give a report on the potential harvest of trees within the City of Shawano Industrial Park. -Because I was on vacation and could not attend the November Tree Advisory Committee meeting, I am hoping to receive an update on this discussion. -I continue to receive numerous phone calls and emails regarding tree questions and concerns. I visit by phone or by email and, if needed, visit the homeowner’s residence, and respond to tree questions and concerns. Page 6 of 6