Disc Golf, Beavers Part of City’s Tree Plan Discussion

Ordinance §93,090 section (A) (1) of the Fairbury City Ordinances, the Public Works Department requires an Annual Comprehensive Municipal Tree Plan for the City of Fairbury. The plan was presented to the Fairbury City Council at a meeting Tuesday evening, December 19, 2023, by Laura Bedlan, Development Services Director.A number of trees have been damaged by beavers. Fairbury Mayor Spencer Brown asked, “Do we have plans to replace the trees that got taken down by beavers along the road?”Bedlan said she had discussed possible funding options for tree replacement with the Nebraska Arboretum.City Councilperson Brian Schmidt said, “I think we should look more into controlling some of the beaver population out there.”In accordance with the aforementioned ordinance and with the help of the Nebraska Forest Service, the state-wide arboretum, community volunteers, utility departments and the Fairbury Tree Board, the Fairbury Public Works Department has continued to care for all of the city's trees in accordance with the CTAP (Community Threat Assessment Protocol), 2014 street tree plan and 2017 parks tree plan provided by the Nebraska Forest Service. Additionally, the city was able to complete an Arbor Day planting and remains an active Tree City USA member. Below is information specific to tree care in the city's three main parks;McNish ParkAs is the Public Works Department's standard procedure, dead or dangerous trees will be removed and the city will continue to prune as directed in the Nebraska Forest Service recommendations.It was noted in the 2017 report and 2020 arboretum review that McNish has a good diversity of tree stock and a high number of trees. However, a high number of dense trees can restrict air flow and increase the potential for the spread of disease. For that reason, the parks department continues to thin and remove trees in this park as needed.Fairbury City ParkAgain, as is standard procedure, the Public Works Department will remove dead or dangerous trees and continue to prune in this park as was directed in 2020 by the Nebraska Forest Service.Along with this regular maintenance, parks staff are continuing to work on upgrading and expanding the tree species identification in the Fairbury City Park arboretum. Additionally, the city is continuing its phased removal of the older pine trees and brush located in and behind the Cloverleaf Softball Complex and replacement with hardwood shade trees and evergreens, intended to provide shade and a windbreak for the north softball fields.The city finalized the first phase of this 2021 TNT (Trees for Nebraska Towns) grant and proposes to continue with its brush removal and tree replacement as weather and schedules allow.Crystal Springs ParkThis park is also managed by the Fairbury Public Works Department and as is their practice in all of the city parks they maintain the existing tree stock by removing dead and dangerous trees along with completing the recommended pruning and maintaining wildlife deterrent measures for the young tree stock as necessary.In addition to the regular tree maintenance at Crystal Springs throughout the year staff has been performing tree and brush removal for the new disc golf fairways located in and around this park.No action was taken at the meeting.

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