Frequently Asked Questions

During the summer and fall of 2012, the Public Works staff surveyed and inventoried the Village's entire ash tree population and found a total of 2,473 ash trees. As part of the ash tree inventory, staff rated every tree in accordance with the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Policy. The rating system utilized by the Village is detailed below.

• Level 1 - Tree is showing some signs of EAB infestation but cannot be determined with reasonable certainty. Tree will be monitored on a quarterly to bi-annual basis.
• Level 3 - Tree is showing obvious signs of EAB infestation and will be monitored very closely. Tree will almost certainly die off completely within 1 to 2 years.
• Level 5 - Tree is almost or completely dead due to EAB infestation. Tree shows more than two obvious signs of EAB infestation and needs to be removed and/or replaced.

To date (2017), the Village has removed approximately 2,281 ash trees from the public right-of-ways and Village owned properties that were given a "Level 5" rating.

Public Works crews have removed over 2,281 ash trees that have become infested or were previously dead since 2012, and will most likely be removing trees for the next five years. Funds have been allocated on an annual basis for trees that have been removed. To date (Spring, 2017) the village has replaced over 2,094 trees with a more than a dozen of tree species.

Yes. Stumps are added to a list and ground (removed), within 60 to 90 days of the removal of the tree. Due to the potential high volume of work, this time frame may be adjusted. Depending on the season, wood chips may remain in place or the area will be restored with topsoil and seed and blanket.

Machines used for grinding stumps are essentially large-scale chainsaws with teeth that are designed for use on wood and topsoil only. Blocks, edging, and landscaping may prohibit the unit from accessing the stump and can cause damage to the machine.