Money might not grow on trees but becoming designated a Tree City USA can be lucrative. Village officials said they can now apply for state and federal grants since they recently received that designation from the Arbor Day Foundation in Lincoln, Neb.
The foundation’s recognition required that the village schedule an Arbor Day, pass an ordinance regulating the treatment of trees on public property, budget $2 for each citizen for tree management and appoint a committee to oversee tree care in the village, said Village Administrator Patricia Jones.
“We have worked extremely hard to accomplish this goal,” Mayor Rosemary Kaptur said.
Village officials plan to apply for a $10,000 tree management matching grant from the state.
Lynn Zachmann, co-chairman of the village’s seven-member Tree Committee, said the money would be used to identify high-risk trees, develop a plan to reduce risks to existing trees, hire a tree care consultant and conduct an education program.
