Rosemount City Council Tackles City's Ash Borer Management Plan

Director Dan Schultz presented a plan to the City Council on Wednesday outlining the departments intent to be vigilant and proactive in the approach to combating the Emerald Ash Borer.

According to a website on Emerald Dash Borers, the exotic beetle's larvae feeds on the inner bark of ash trees and disrupts its ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree.

An inventory for the city's ash trees identified over 1,000 such trees in parks along city-maintained boulevards. 

While the insect has not been found in Rosemount, it has been discovered in both Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as other areas of the metropolitan area. Schultz indicated that it's only a matter of time before the pest finds its way to Rosemount, too.

The city's plan is to start in the parks and selectively remove trees that are planted too close together and then move on to boulevard trees that are the least healthy. 

Other parts of the plan include education and a new Shade Tree Pest Ordinance that gives the city the authority to remove an infected tree from private property if the owner does not act to do so. 

Parks Supervisor Tom Schuster indicated that if the pests are caught early, the tree can be saved through regular insecticide injections. 

Schultz also presented a plan for updating benches and planters around the Rosemount Community Center.

Mayor Droste asked Schultz to come back with a more aggressive plan that gets the space better used saying, "If we aren't going to be aggressive, we wont be competitive." Droste wants to make the community center more appealing for people to hold receptions and other events there.

Council member Kim Shoe-Corrigan agreed. "Whatever you do, make it really nice this time."

Other business covered at Wednesday's work session included a presentation by City Engineer Andy Bratzler of proposed options for bicycle lanes on portions of Shannon Parkway and 145th Street.

A public information meeting will be scheduled for October in which residents may provide their input on which of three options they prefer. This will be followed by a public hearing sometime in November.