Supervisors hear report on Emerald Ash Borer damaging courthouse trees

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Monday morning, March 7 for its regular meeting. During the public comment time, resident Jack Knight was present to discuss a copy of an Operations Ordinance from Bayfield County in Wisconsin regarding CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations).
Knight addressed local control of counties and townships and CAFO management, mentioning concerns about a proposed hog confinement that could affect water quality in the Village Creek watershed area. He advised that Bayfield County is similar to Allamakee County in that it has very sensitive environmental areas, stresses the importance of clean water for trout and other streams, and has an outdoor tourism element as well. The Board discussed water quality testing and well water testing, and it was noted that there has not been a watershed project in Village Creek that anyone in attendance was aware of.
The Board advised that the item would be put on the agenda for the next meeting, Monday, March 14, to discuss water testing in the Village Creek area. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour also weighed in on the matter by saying that Allamakee County has the largest drainage area of any Iowa county for outstanding Iowa water. “We’re all for clean water, but we have to do our  jobs and make a living and make the world go around,” he noted, adding that there are many laws in effect regarding things like bridge work or stream channel projects that require permits to safeguard projects and try and prevent run-off.
The Board then approved subdivision plats for Shirley M. Steiber, KevDeb Rentals Two LLC & Sterk Family Trust, and KevDeb Rentals Two LLC, and also accepted and placed on file manure management plans for Gibbs Dairy, West Ridge Ag and Eric Weymiller. The Board also accepted and placed on file the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Services Commission FY 15 Audited Financial Statement. Board member Dan Byrnes, who is also a member of that board, noted that there were no problems with the audit. The time and date was also set to open bids for the County's 2008 Ford Explorer as March 14 at 10:30 a.m.
The Board then heard from Drew Stevenson of Stevenson Consulting regarding the five ash trees on the courthouse property and treating them for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. Stevenson, who is an ISA certified arborist, noted that he took a look at all the trees on the property before the meeting, as well as looking at ash trees in the city of Waukon. He noted that all five of the ash trees on the courthouse property have symptoms of an EAB infestation to a degree. He explained that there are three green ash and two white ash on the property.
Stevenson also said that he noticed a significant amount of EAB symptomatic trees in Waukon as well. Stevenson discussed three ways to treat the trees on the courthouse property. He said that for the trees on the courthouse property, he would recommend an injection of a systemic insecticide, because they are already infested. The larvae of EAB live under the bark of ash trees and feed off of the vascular system of the trees. The injection would last two years, and involves drilling into the trees to get the injection into the vascular system. Injection is currently the only option for infested trees.
Other treatment options discussed were soil drenching, which would involve applying the insecticide on the root system of the ash trees, and that treatment lasts a year, so it would need to be done annually. Another option would be to spray the bark of the trees, which is also something that needs to be done annually. Stevenson noted that the largest tree on the property, a green ash, is showing significant signs of damage from the infestation. Stevenson recommended starting with the injections, then alternating with either bark spraying or soil drenching for a few seasons, going back to the injection and then spraying or drenching. He estimated for a 10-year treatment period, it would cost the County around $6,000 for the five trees.
Discussion then moved in the direction of tree removal. Stevenson noted that the Board would have to look at what the County’s ultimate goal is in regard to trees and landscaping. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer asked if the County would be fighting an up-hill battle against this pest. Stevenson responded by explaining that after a period of several years as the EAB moves through the area, the only surviving ash trees will be treated trees. He suggested that if the County chooses to remove any trees, it would be desirable to diversify landscape plantings and if it is desired to try and save all the ash trees on the property, the County would need to be prepared to treat the trees indefinitely.
The Board discussed possibly removing the worst infested trees, which would really only be one large green ash on the courthouse property, and try to save the remainder. Stevenson noted that if the Board decides to remove any of the trees, it should be done before the bugs move from the larval stage into the adult stage. He explained that usually happens in June, and the wood from the removed tree needs to be chipped and burned to destroy the larvae.
Stevenson reiterated that the key to avoiding problems where one species is decimated by a pest is to diversify the landscape plantings. Stevenson also noted that the EAB situation is similar to the Dutch Elm disease situation, and while there do not appear to be any native ash trees in North America that are resistant to EAB, there are some ash trees native to Asia that are. There is always a possibility in the future that there could be a hybridization of ash trees, but currently nurseries in affected areas do not even sell ash trees. The Board asked if Stevenson would refigure his estimate to account for the removal of the worst infested tree and bring it back to the Board.
The Board met with Les Askelson and Josh Kelly of Wennes Communications in regard to renewal of the lease agreement with the County first discussed two weeks ago for a radio transmission tower site located on County property along Iron Mine Drive north of Waukon facilitating KNEI radio’s FM broadcast. The original 20-year lease agreement for the tower location was signed in 1996 for an annual $500 lease payment and is set to expire May 30 of this year.
It was pointed out by Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer that the original agreement stated the rental rate was $250 per acre for the two-acre site, totaling the $500 annual lease rate. Following some discussion in regard to the origin of such a lease rate, both parties agreed to a 20-year renewal of the lease at a rate of $400 per acre, equaling an $800 annual lease rate.
Auditor Beyer also discussed with the Board the accounting for expenses in regard to the in-progress Public Safety Center project now that the bond funding for the project has been received. It was agreed that any expenses that would fall under the bond language approved by Allamakee County voters in May of last year in regard to the project would be paid for out of that bond funding, while the County would also maintain a balance within its original $400,000 commitment to the project from its General Fund to assist with additional or unforeseen expenses that may not fall under the original bond language for the project.
Auditor Beyer also shared with the Board some procedure guidelines she had obtained from Black Hawk County for consideration in regard to appointments to various boards serving the County. Beyer felt it would be beneficial to have some guidelines in place for such board appointments in regard to such matters as gender balance, term limits, and a re-appointment process.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour also advised the Board that road embargoes have been put in place on some of the County's roadways due to the thawing temperatures. Ridenour advised that signs have been put up in regard to the embargoes, and a notice has been published on Page 2A of this week's issue of The Standard.