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ALPENA -- For 18 consecutive years Alpena has been recognized as a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the work it does to maintain the city's population of trees and add new ones as old or unhealthy ones are removed.
Trees in the city have had an up and down history over the last decade or so, as many have had to be cut down because they were stricken with disease. Thanks to money from the McClay trust fund and an investment from the general fund, the city has been able to sustain a tree plating program which has helped to replace many of them. It was because of the effort and commitment that National Arbor Day Foundation declared Alpena a tree city.
City Engineer Rich Sullenger said trees are an important part of the fabric of the city and making living, working and taking part in recreation more enjoyable. He said those are only a few reasons why the city goes to the lengths that it does to be sure they are cared for properly and replaced when needed.
"We have been investing in our forestry and tree inventory throughout the community," Sullenger said. "Lately with the Emerald Ash Borer we needed to take a lot of trees out, but are now putting a lot back in. We took out more than 400 trees and there may be more that still need to come down, but we are doing our best to replenish them, as funding allows."
Sullenger said the money from the McClay trust, which was earmarked for trees in the city, is running low on funds, but the current tree planting program will continue this spring and summer. He said Alpena Municipal Council is also likely to approve money in its next budget to cover the cost of additional trees being planted, although it may not be as many as in years past.
"We have a contract with PrattScape to do some planting and I'm quite confident our budget request to council will be approved so we can continue to plant trees," he said. "Will it be as many as what we have been able to do in the past? Maybe not."
Sullenger said when trees are planted in the city a variety of different kinds are placed strategically in different locations. He said parks get trees and places where trees were removed previously are usually replaced. He said planting different types of trees helps prevent disease from killing many trees of the same kind.
"We always have some older trees that aren't real healthy, but right now most are in pretty good shape," Sullenger said. "It's unfortunate we had to take out as many ash trees as we did. By having a variety it helps prevent disease like Dutch Elm Disease or ash borer from coming in and killing a bunch of trees."
The city's tree program also provides residents a chance to plant trees and have the city help offset the cost of it. Sullenger said property owners who would like to plant a tree between the street and sidewalk near their property can contact the city to do so. He said there are some trees that residents are not able to plant, but most can. Sullenger said once the city approves the planting and type of tree, it will inspect it after planted and a partial refund will be sent out. He said the literature is available on the city's website or at the engineering office.
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.