County budget: Chainsaws will be busy in Norfolk in 2016 and beyond

simcoereformer.ca
Jan. 14, 2016
By Monte Sonnenberg

Norfolk County is poised to increase its tree cutting budget by $200,000 this year thanks to the emerald ash borer.

County staff estimates it could cost as much as $650,000 this year to remove all dead and dying ash trees from county land in areas where they pose a threat to people and property.

In an attempt to save money, Windham Coun. Jim Oliver suggested this week that staff do what it can within its usual budget and forgo the $200,000 debenture.

“These ash trees are not going anywhere,” Oliver said during Day 1 of the 2016 budget on Tuesday. “My understanding is a lot of these trees are not yet dead and don’t present a risk.”

Oliver’s argument didn’t gain much traction with staff or his council colleagues.

“These trees are not falling down,” said Kevin Lichach, general manager of community services. “But you don’t want to put staff in a position where they are falling down because there is a liability situation there.”

Port Rowan Coun. Noel Haydt agreed. Haydt pointed out that it is safer and less expensive to take down a dying tree than a brittle tree that has been dead for two or three years.

“We could be a day late,” Haydt said. “It can be really expensive to cut down trees after they are safe to cut.”

The emerald ash borer is an invasive insect native to Asia. Since its arrival in Michigan in 2002, the pest has laid waste to ash trees in the northeast part of North America. The problem is the ash borer has no natural enemies in this part of the world.

The ash borer was first detected in Norfolk in a stand of ash trees north of Turkey Point seven years ago. Norfolk’s community services department is confident the bug will kill most every ash tree in the county.

Norfolk staff have identified 1,274 problem ash trees in the county’s hamlets and urban areas. These trees are high risk because they are near homes, small buildings, pathways, swimming pools, fences and areas where people are active. An inventory of dead and dying ash trees in parks, cemeteries, along walking trails, and along concession roads has yet to be completed.

Norfolk approved a tender in December for the removal of 418 high-priority ash trees. Based on the results of that tender call, Norfolk staff estimate the county’s ash removal program will cost about $500 per tree.

In other forestry news, the community services department’s bid for $75,000 to conduct a forest-management study this year survived Tuesday’s deliberations.

Oliver and Simcoe Coun. Doug Brunton suggested county staff conduct the study when they have time but Lichach said that simply isn’t feasible. He said a dedicated consultant is the way to go.

“We have staff that is qualified and competent,” Lichach said. “We just don’t have the time.”

Norfolk needs a new inventory of its forest holdings because the last one was conducted in 2002. Studies of this sort are necessary because they guide the county’s logging program. Logging activity in county forests last year was worth about $70,000.

Norfolk’s 2016 levy-supported budget is in flux. Everything remains on the table until council passes a bylaw approving the document.

Council is expected to wrap up its consideration of the draft document Friday at Governor Simcoe Square. Council convenes at 9 a.m. and expects to finish by 4 p.m.