Treeboard staff says USDA grant-backed plantings continuing; tentatively plans July site visit

Staff member provided an update on work funded by a USDA grant, saying planting is underway across multiple sites and the grant runs through April 2027. “It ends next year April of 2027,” the staff member said, adding the aim is to wrap up core planting by December so the first four months of 2027 can be used to close out grant tasks and tie up loose ends.

The staff member said crews and volunteers have been placing trees across town: 12 trees are scheduled for installation at the Moose Lodge site, about 10 more are planned in the industrial park on the south end of town, and roughly a dozen are slated for residential properties as part of the spring round of plantings. Volunteers are assisting with an intensive watering program; the staff member noted that Jerry Troyer, a truck driver whose position is grant-funded, has returned to support those efforts.

Committee members discussed using Water Tower Park as an outdoor learning laboratory. The staff member said the park already hosts small “food forest” prototype plantings near the parking area while keeping open spaces available for pick‑up recreation. The group also discussed a nearby prairie restoration project (about 60–70 acres) and maintenance patterns used during the first growing season.

Members noted broader planting totals referenced during the session — one participant mentioned '600 trees' planted in related work — and the staff member said specific project lists and final counts would be verified and included in future reports and the meeting minutes. When asked for timelines, staff reiterated they expect to complete most planting work by the end of the calendar year and to use early 2027 to finish grant closeout tasks.

Because the meeting lacked a quorum, the group did not take formal votes. They tentatively planned an informal site visit to the south end of Deerorf for July 13, with the staff member noting that any field visit would be unofficial unless higher‑level approval or a future, properly noticed meeting provided formal authorization. The session closed with staff committing to circulate project lists and clearer counts for the planting work in upcoming communications.

Ending: The treeboard heard updates and set follow‑ups; no formal decisions were made because the meeting did not have a quorum. Staff will provide verified planting counts and next steps in a future, formally convened meeting.