HomeMy WebLinkAboutTree Commission Minutes 041122
Parks and Recreation Department
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Three Commission Minutes, April 12, 2022
City Hall, Galesburg, Illinois
Meeting was called to order by Tony Oligney-Estill at 3:59 P.M.
Roll Call: Present: Members: Pat Trant, Dainel Thompson, Bill Sime, Jane Easterly, Daniel
Leahy, Superintendent of Parks-Don Miles and Director of Parks and Recration-
Tony Oligney-Estill
Absent: Ann Pennington
Minutes: Minutes from the March 14, 2022 meeting were approved.
Forestry Report:
• Director Oligney-Estill presented the March 2022 Forestry Report. Commissioner Leahy
asked what was included in the shrub tree removals. Superintendent Miles answered
the shrub tree count was largely the work staff did at the Spillway.
• The report was approved.
Old Business:
• Commissioner Sime asked Director Oligney-Estill if he could help communicate with
District 205 to set a location for the Arbor Day Tree Planting at Steele School since he
was not having much lunch getting a return communication. Director Oligney-Estill was
able to find out that Principal Graves has picked a location for the tree planting.
Commissioner Sime said he would follow up with Principal Graves so Forestry staff can
get to work on preparing for the planting which will be on April 29th at 10am.
New Business:
• During the discussion as to where to plant 20 trees for an event by Knox College, Tom
Simkins made a presentation on locations where trees could be planted on City terraces
throughout the City. Mr. Simkins identified 700 locations where he thought trees cou ld
be planted. The Commission recommends planting the 20 trees on a couple locations
around Knox College from Mr. Simkins presentation along with the Standish Park
Arboretum.
• Commissioner Trant passed around information that he researched regarding the best
size of trees to plant that give the tree the best chance of success. The information
included email exchanges from Matt Vahle, Gardn Center Manager at Green View
Companies, and Chris Enroth from the U of I Extension Office.
Parks and Recreation Department
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• The Commission had a discussion on how best to get not only the 20 trees from the
Knox College project, but also the usual 10-15 trees that the City plants each year. In
addition, Mr. Simkins stated there may be up to $50,000 in additional City funds that
could go to planting more trees over the next 2-3 years if there was a plan to plant them
all. The discussion wrapped up with the thought that there would need to be a
combination of both volunteers and City staff planting the trees and that volunteers
would need to water the trees after they were planted.
Citizen Comments:
• Mr. Tom Simkins made a presentation which is referenced under New Business section.
Meeting adjourned at 4:47 P.M.
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Tony Oligney-Estill, Director of Parks and Recreation