On Monday, the Lake Zurich Village Board approved spending up to $100,000 as part of a tree replacement program.
The program replaces trees killed by the emerald ash borer, an Asian beetle now endemic to the area that attacks trees. The new trees will be planted in about the same location as ones previously removed due to beetle infestation.
The funds were already in the budget and doubles the usual annual spending on the tree replacement program, officials explained.
“This amount is expected to result in approximately 390 trees planted,” said Trustee Marc Spacone, who introduced the measure. “The 2022 plantings will focus on Millers Grove, Bristol Trails, Hunters Creek, Lake Zurich Estates, Wicklow Village, Ancient Oaks and Braemar subdivisions. Selection of all tree species are recommended by the village arborist and the Lake Zurich Tree Commission.”
The contract is with St. Aubin Nursery in Kirkland and will expire Dec. 31, 2023. The wholesale nursery was among four to submit bids and had the lowest one when they submitted their documents in January, according to village officials.
In exchange for planting the trees, the village is asking residents to care for them or even contribute money if they would like larger ones their property. The type of tree will be determined by the village arborist and the Public Works Department director, but a 1-foot diameter upgrade to a larger tree from the standard 1-and-a-half-foot diameter tree could cost about $85, officials said.
Either way, residents would be asked to care for the trees.
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“If you get a tree, please water it,” Mayor Tom Poynton said.
The trees will be planted in the spring and fall, Public Works Director Mike Brown told the board.
“Any little help goes a long way,” Brown said.
Residents who will get trees will be notified in a letter. At that point, homeowners will be able to contact the village if they would like to contribute to a larger tree, officials explained.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.