I'm going to throw one out there because it has me nervous. According to reports from the mayor's streetbeat on the environment, Dutch Elm has been mentioned by him as an environmental concern.
In February, RT Rybak held a news conference to talk about the results of the Tree Advisory Commission findings stating that Dutch Elm will be worse in 05. Minneapolis is going after Dutch Elm on several fronts: educate the public, get state and federal money for anti-infestation and replanting programs that "rival those of the 70s (STRIB)"
They are taking this VERY SERIOUSLY. The commission has recommended all trees be removed within 20 days. They are taken to a site and debarked immediately. If they are not debarked they spread the disease.
Here in St. Paul the trees are brought to the West Side and left in tact for years. Why. Because we've been stockpiling the stuff for the beloved solid waste burner on Kellogg. There are piles of dead trees that are so old that they are grey and the bark had to fall off by itself. If this mayor is so concerned about Dutch Elm he should start by doing something about it.
If anyone tries to claim that trees are being processed properly in St. Paul they are being inaccurate. We have a nuisance law in this City that says you can't keep diseased trees in tact. City officials themselves have admitted to me that "the river valley is exempt" from that part of city code because "the river valley is too far gone to the disease." So there is no urgency. The diseased trees sit. I live in front of these trees and have been doing so for 6 years now. I think that our complete lack of any process whatsoever now and for the past 6 years has been, if not the cause, a huge shot of gas to the fire.
Michelle Hoffman West Side
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