Tree Board Minutes March 2016
WINDY HILLS TREE BOARD
A meeting of the Windy Hills Tree Board was held on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at 7:00 P.M. at the home of Cheri Silvey-Slusher 1307 Killiney Place 40207.
Members present were: Chair, Cheri Silvey-Slusher, Marcia Myers, Cathy Thompson, and Ward Wilson. Also present were City Council Representative Kate Greer, and Certified Arborist Caroline Westfall. Shaun Danahy and Amy Carter were absent.
Minutes: Minutes from January 14, 2016 were approved.
Financial Report: Since Shaun Danahy was not present, there was no financial report.
Chair Report: – Cheri Silvey-Slusher
Our Tree City USA application was again approved. The organization would like to present materials in person at our Arbor Day celebration
The board decided to decline seedlings offered by the Kentucky Division of Forestry and instead continue our practice of raffling 10 more mature balled-root trees at our Arbor Day celebration.
Windy Hills was also notified that we did not receive the LG&E Plant for the Planet Grant.
City of Windy Hills Report: – Kate Greer
It has been noted that Ordinance12-04 requires that the Windy Hills Tree Board meet monthly. In order to be better stewards of time and resources, since such frequency is not necessary to accomplish the mission, the City Council will be asked to consider amended wording that the board “will meet at least once each year and as needed”.
The board considered a letter of concern from a resident concerning possibly hazardous trees on Rudy Lane. Arborist Caroline Westfall will evaluate the trees of concern and, if they are hazardous trees of public concern, a referral will be made to the city ordinance enforcer who will communicate with the resident citing sections 5a, d and 6a of ordinance 12-04, encouraging her in the appropriate maintenance or removal.
Arborist Report: – Caroline Westfall
Work on street review and condition report of Windy Hills trees
Arbor Day support
Providing comparative material from other cities related to tree ordinances and programs
Arbor Day will be celebrated on The Windy Hills Green on Sunday, April 17th beginning at 3 pm. The program will include the planting of a tree by our Arborist Caroline Westfall as an educational opportunity. Arborist Mike Hayman will also be involved in the activities. Caroline will get relevant materials from the extension service for distribution.
Cathy Thompson will chair the event. She will get refreshments and rent a speaker system and provide seed packets, signs, etc.
The board approved a revised Resident Tree Program: – TheFrank Otte Nursery on Bardstown Road and Wallitsch Garden Center on Hikes Lane have agreed to give Windy Hills residents a 20% discount as we currently receive from The Plant Kingdom for the Resident Tree Program. Residents now can select up to 2 canopy trees from any of the 3 approved vendors and receive the discount. They will be asked to sign an agreement to care for the tree and the nursery must plant the tree. Once the agreement and paid invoice are submitted to the city, the homeowner will receive a $100 rebate check per tree purchased. Copies of the invoices will be sent to the board and the trees added to the Master Tree List at that time.
Ward Wilson is gathering and reviewing city tree ordinances and will provide a comparative chart to assist the board in its effort to clarify the scope of our mission and delineate tree-related responsibilities of the City and those of the WHTB.
The next meeting will be Thursday, June 2nd , 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Cheri Silvey-Slusher 1307 Killiney Place 40207.
If any member sees a discrepancy between the minutes and what occurred or sees a need for corrections or additions, e-mail Secretary Marcia Myers at marciaclarkmyers@gmail.com. Your approval of these minutes is granted unless the secretary hears otherwise from you.
