Ash borer on Cornwall city council's agenda

standard-freeholder.com
Feb. 19, 2016
By Greg Peerenboom

The city could be spending $33,888 to remove trees infected and killed by the emerald ash borer beetle.

A Carleton Place firm, Ashton Line Clearing, has been selected, beating out one local bidder, Woodsman Const. & Tree Service of St. Andrew's West, which offered a bid of $35,425.

The fee is less than 10 per cent of the budgeted cost of $400,000 for the city to deal with the after effects of the beetle's devastation and pro-active measures such as treatment and tree planting to offset the trees that need to be cut down.

What's not clear whether the city will demand that Ashton Line Clearing also make provisions to sell the wood privately.

A report to city council from purchasing supervisor Paul Scrimshaw does not indicate whether Ashton will be stipulated to recoup some of the tender cost.

Earlier this year, council was told that in previous years the cut wood was deposited at the public works yard where it could be picked up free of charge.

Councillors wondered if private contractors were collecting it and then selling it on the market.

Council will be considering the tender at its Monday meeting.

Also part of the ash replacement program, council is being asked to spend $47,731 to have city business MacDonell's Garden Centre supply, delivery, plant, water and warranty a variety of 40 millimetre caliper trees.

The trees are among species being planted in areas where the ash trees have been cut down.