Council hears proposal to deal with ash borer

Dealing with the emerald ash borer was on the Lincoln City Council’s agenda Monday night.

Lincoln parks and rec is proposing an almost $23 million budget covering 15 years.  It’s for tree removal, treatment and planting new trees.

The ash borer was spotted in Lincoln in August.  Parks and Rec said it’s rapidly killing trees.

“Five from the time that Emerald Ash Borer has been identified, about 50 percent of untreated ash trees in the community will be dead and within about 15 years, 100 percent — or nearly 100 percent — of the untreated ash trees will be dead,” said director Lynn Johnson.

The council is scheduled to vote on the proposal on December 17th.  That’s when they’ll also decide on an amendment change that would require a permit to treat trees with pesticides.