Des Plaines residents, business owners and high school officials are set to receive refunds totaling $2,900 after city leaders recently approved a rebate policy for its parkway tree replacement program.
Des Plaines City Council earlier this year voted to waive the program’s $50 fee in an effort to encourage more residents to participate. But before the fee was eliminated, owners of 23 properties — including homes, businesses and Maine West High School — had paid the required $50 per tree for 58 trees that had not yet been planted, according to city reports.
The city is on track to replace about 35 percent of the 3,000 trees lost to the region’s emerald ash borer infestation, said Tim Oakley, Des Plaines’ director of public works and engineering. Many more need to be removed and, ideally, replaced with different trees. As a result, alderman agreed to waive the $50 fee for replacement trees to encourage more residents to sign up for the program.
This week, the council unanimously approved the refund for the 58 tree fees left in limbo. Some aldermen suggested the city go farther by refunding tree fees paid over the past several years. The cost of refunding trees replaced since 2013 would be $42,900, Oakley said.
“I think that the refund for the 58 parkway trees that have not yet been planted is a fair and reasonable stop to the refund,” said Ald. Denise Rodd, 3rd.
Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten, who enthusiastically supported eliminating the fee, suggested that refunds dating back two years be offered only to those who truly want them.
“Maybe we should do a 60-day trial,” he said. “Whoever wants to come in and ask for reimbursement, they get the reimbursement.”
One resident said refunds should be given to all who participated in the program, regardless of when.
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“They should get a refund if they didn’t get a tree, or even if they got a tree,” said Des Plaines resident Ronald Moore.
Letters went out last week informing residents that a $50 fee is no longer required to participate in the program, Oakley said. The letter also asks residents why they might not want a tree replaced even with the fee eliminated.
Oakley said the city has not yet received any responses.