2022/02/07 - Mayor's Column: Tree Trimming and Winter Storm Recap
“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
You may have noticed that several of the large Pin Oak trees in the Community Park are starting to be removed. It is sad that this decision has finally had to be made because it definitely takes away from our beautiful Community Park. This tree project will continue for several weeks and will have a significant effect on the look of the Community Park.
This was not an easy decision for anyone involved and I personally hated to see it happen, but this is due to a severe infection of galls in these trees that outline the park on Route 50 and Hilgard Street. Tree health and the safety of our park visitors is at the foremost of this decision. These trees have been in a steady decline for several years despite the best efforts to avoid doing this. The Parks Department has taken cultivation methods and some chemical by way of fertilizer to aid the trees, but their decline has continued.
Since the discovery of the decline of these beautiful trees a new crop of trees have been added to the Community Park. This effort will continue in future years so that future generations will be able to enjoy this beautiful tree-lined park just as we have enjoyed the majestic Pin Oaks in the past.
There are several other changes coming to the Community Park over the next few years that will enhance the park for the future.
On a separate note, we just got through one of the larger snow events in recent memory. We are still waiting for some more information, but here is where we stand:
Over 360 tons of salt and 800 gallons of Beet Heet (liquid ice melt) were used. The city utilized fifteen pieces of major equipment and traveled over 4,000 miles in three days. The cost of the entire operation (snow/ice clearing) was approximately $105,000. As of Monday, we still had two trucks and three backhoes clearing hard to reach locations.
Most don’t know that the City’s response to snow/ice is a costly endeavor. Our men and women of O’Fallon Public Works, Parks, Public Safety, and all other departments put in long, and exhausting hours to help keep the roads traversable and safe!
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open.