By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – City of Tomahawk employees celebrated Arbor Day earlier this month by planting a tree in the front yard at City Hall.
The tree was planted on Wednesday, Oct. 11 by City Clerk/Treasurer Amanda Bartz, Administrative Assistant Lexie VanStrydonk and Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Miranda Swenty, along with Tomahawk Mayor Steve Taskay and City Street Department employee Mason Webster.
Also present were Nicholle Spafford of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Street Department Leadperson Nick Rosenmeier.
During the celebration, Taskay read a proclamation commemorating Arbor Day.
The tree was planted to replace an ash tree that had been removed last year after sustaining storm damage.
City continuing to remove EAB-impacted ash trees
The City of Tomahawk is continuing the process of identifying, marking and removing ash trees that have been impacted by emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle.
Rosenmeier explained that once EAB arrives in an area, it will “inevitably infect the entire population of ash trees over time.”
“Unfortunately, EAB is fatal for ash trees, and left untreated, will result in certain death,” Rosenmeier said. “Due to the large number of ash trees located on city property, the cost of treating trees is cost-prohibitive, and therefore the decision has been made to remove the trees.”
The city recently applied for a DNR grant to help alleviate some of the costs associated with removing and replacing ash trees, which Rosenmeier said will be a “long and tedious undertaking.”
Rosenmeier said he hopes Tomahawk residents understand that city employees are “not removing ash trees because we want to, but rather because we have no other choice.”
He also encouraged residents to identify ash trees on their private property.
“If you would like to try to protect your ash trees via treatment, please reach out to a local arborist or tree company and investigate what your options are,” Rosenmeier stated. “If treating the trees is not an option, please consider removing them as soon as they show signs of dieback or shortly after they have died. The longer these trees remain standing dead, the more brittle they will become. A dead tree is not only a hazard to your person and property, but to your neighbors as well.”
To learn more about EAB, visit www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/foresthealth/emeraldashborer.