Emerald ash borer causing concern for residents

BrantNews.com
Sept. 13, 2016
By Victoria Gray

A grant program to help residents deal with the emerald ash borer fallout is possible.

City of Brantford council directed staff to bring a report back to council on the a potential grant program to help homeowners with the cost of removing trees effected by the bug at Tuesday's committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Ward 4 councillor Richard Carpenter brought forward the motion because residents are feeling the pinch and not everyone can afford to cut down the dead trees.

“I'd like staff to investigate a grant assistance program to assist citizens with private property dealing with the Ash Borer. We are providing grants for lead sewers, but residents are now being made to deal with trees dying and not having resources to remove them and it's not affordable for some residents. I'd like to look at options to assist residents,” he said.

Mayor Chris Friel said he supported the report, but didn't think a grant program would be possible for at least two or three years because the city is behind in dealing with the problem in public spaces.

“Ultimately, we're going to get there, but not this budget year. We're operating 15 months behind for responding to tree complaints due to back log and a lack of resources,” he said.

He said since March the city has received 2,000 calls regarding trees on city property and they just can't handle the volume. He said stump removal is behind more than two years.

“We require five years minimum to address city owned trees. We are increasing the number of ash trees because of boundary adjustment, we're not worrying about that right now, but it's something staff pointed out,” he said.

Ward 2 councillor John Utley said it's time that the province stepped up to help both residents and municipalities deal with.

“It's an infestation,” he said. “It's costing us millions of dollars.”

He said the city has probably spent $5 million and will have to spend at least another $5 million before they get a handle on the invasive insect.

For more information about grants offered by the city visit http://www.brantford.ca/govt/grants/Pages/CityofBrantfordGrants.aspx.