Tree Board Meeting

TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE Tree Board Meeting Wednesday April 1, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Agenda Pg 1. Call to Order …………………………………………. Chair Kantner 2. Adoption of Agenda …………………………………. Chair Kantner 3. Approval of Minutes- March 4, 2026 ...………………… 2 Chair Kantner 4. Arbor Day Program ………………………………………. 5 Chair Kantner 5. Other Business ………………………………… 6. Adjournment 1 Tree Board - March 04, 2026 Meeting Minutes The Tree Board regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall, 30 S. Main Street, Weaverville, N.C. 1. 0B Call to Order Tree Board Members Present: Chairman Russ Kantner, Gary Harmon, Pauline Griffith, Caleb Hudson, Inger Stallman Jorgensen, William Mobley, Patrice Sheehan, and Andrew Shelton. Staff Present: Town Clerk Tamara Mercer and Assistant Public Works Director Eric Cutshall. Davey Resource Group Arborist Riley Eddins. Keith Aiken, Arborist at City of Asheville 2. 1B Adopt or Amend Agenda Inger Stallman Jorgensen moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Carried unanimously. 8-0. 3. 2B Approval of Minutes Pauline Griffith moved to approve the Tree Board meeting minutes of February 4, 2026 as presented. Carried unanimously. 8-0. 4. 3B Davey Resource Group Weaverville Tree Inventory- Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Arborist Riley Eddins reviewed the data fields collected for species, X/Y coordinates, address, Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), tree height, stems, pests and disease, risk ratings, available planting sites, maintenance plan, overhead utilities, and overall condition based on arborists' nationally accepted standards. Tree inventory results were reviewed for parks and rights-of-way properties with canopy cover 82.2% and includes the stocking levels. Stocking level is a valuable way to compare urban forest coverage over time especially when canopy cover data is not available, such as is the case in Weaverville. “Canopy cover” refers to the percentage of an area which is covered by tree canopy when viewed from above. Canopy cover measurements can be derived in several different ways; the i-Tree Canopy tool is able to provide a basic assessment of the City’s total canopy cover, both public and private, as well as estimate the benefits provided by the entire urban canopy. The data collected allows the Town to track progress toward canopy cover and tree planting goals. 2  Highlights include function and benefits with respect to improved public health and safety, environmental benefits, and economic benefits. Results also included a summary chart of species common and botanical names by replacement value and annual per tree species cost value benefits. Stormwater control, air quality improvements and individual replacement value of $1,701,853 is the Weaverville inventoried public trees assessment. Species diversity particularly noted in the report, as the Town's percentage of black walnut and poplars is too great and we need to plant a greater percent of diverse native species. Also, the town's mature and maturing categories versus young trees need to be increased for future generation. Recommended maintenance included the ongoing tree pruning that Public Works division currently performs as well as routine inspections and inventory updates such as this year's tree inventory data collection will reduce the overall costs to the Town in the long-term planning. High risk trees were recently removed by the grounds crew, and moderate and low risk trees identified int eh inventory are being tracked by the Public Works department crew along with young trees recommended to be included in the routine pruning cycle. The 960 inventoried public trees generate an economic value annually and was estimated using standard practice model benefits, including stormwater reduction, carbon sequestration, and air pollutant removal. It is important to note that these are just the quantifiable benefits provided by trees in the community. The complete array of benefits from Weaverville's public trees extends far beyond what can be calculated through inventory data and i-Tree Eco modeling alone. The successful execution of the five- year maintenance program is expected to amplify the benefits that the community’s public trees provide. This five-year maintenance initiative, with a focus on proactive tree care, necessitates a substantial upfront investment. While addressing Extreme, High, and Moderate Risk trees through removal or pruning can be costly, it is a vital step to enhance public safety and reduce long-term tree maintenance expenses. Following the report presentation there was a question-and-answer period. 5. 4B Arbor Day Program When: April 16th at 10 am Where: At the knoll on the southside of Lake Louise Park across the road from the Water Wheel and near the new fishing pier. Perhaps in attendance: 7th and 8th graders and high school students who won poetry or art competitions in their grade level, Public Works Staff, Mayor Dee Lawrence, Tree Board Members, Town Hall Staff, and interested community members. The best guess is that about 10 or so students will be able to leave school for this event. Program: 1. Welcome and Declaration of Arbor Day Celebration in Weaverville by our Mayor Mr. Dee Lawrence. 2. Public Works will plant a new tree (likely a Silverbell) on the knoll. 3. Storytelling with an Arbor Day/Tree theme by Jill Totman (estimated time about 10-20 minutes). 4. Announcement of the winners of the Poetry and the Art competition who have been invited to attend the celebration. Classes with winners will receive a special ice cream treat made by Jennifer Young of Weaverville and to be delivered to their class at a later time.. 5. A walk to the other side of Lake Louise and up to the Weaverville Community Center to view the winning student art and poetry work. The work will be exhibited during the month of April for all the community to enjoy. 3  Please note: This is a Rain or Shine Event! If rain is in the forecast, bring an umbrella. If there is lightning or thunder, the event will move under the roof to the outside patio of the Weaverville Community Center. 6. 5B Other Business- none 7. 6B Adjournment There being no other business and without objection, Chair Kantner adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Town Clerk 4  TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE TREE BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: April 1, 2026 SUBJECT: Arbor Day Program PRESENTER: Chairman Kantner ATTACHMENTS: 1 DESCRIPTION: Arbor Day Program event discussion • Date: Thursday, April 16th • Location: Lake Louise Knoll (by the Waterwheel side) and Community Center • Time: 10:00 a.m. Welcome remarks, and Arbor Day Proclamation, Mayor Lawrence Artists’ Competition- North Buncombe Middle School and North Buncombe High School students: Artwork viewing in-person Poetry Submission links: Arbor Day Young Artists Poetry Competition 2026 Click on link to open the Various folders in the google doc. Artists’ Certificates discussion 5  RBOR A OGRADAY PR M 2026 Arbor Day Celebration ‘Planting Trees at Lake Louise’ th April 16 at 10:00 a.m. [tree planting & program location is southside of Lake Louise, knoll across from the waterwheel] I. Welcome Remarks .......... Mayor Dee Lawrence II. Arbor Day Storyteller ................. Jill Totman III. Public Works Tree Planting ......... David Fisher IV. Tree Board presents Tree Sapling Give-away! ...... Chair Russ Kantner V. Young Artists’ Competition- winner announcements .................. Mayor Dee Lawrence VI. Art & Poetry Display at Community Center LAKE LOUISE & COMMUNITY CENTER Program is rain or shine, IF thunder & lightning, we will relocate to the Community Center overlooking6 Lake Louise.