Warsaw is working to continue to be tree-friendly.
The city will host a Tree City USA roundtable July 12 at 2 p.m. at Center Lake Pavilion.
Andrea Nichols, utility arborist for NIPSCO, presented the roundtable information during Monday night’s Warsaw City Council meeting.
The roundtable will include representatives from more than 60 communities in Indiana who either are Tree City USA communities, or are interested in getting the status.
Pam Louks, community and urban forestry coordinator for Indiana Department of Natural Resources, will be the keynote speaker.
“This is a big deal for Warsaw to be able to host this event,” Nichols said.
NIPSCO will assist in sponsoring the event.
Warsaw is working to get Tree City USA status.
Benefits of a Tree City include an enhanced public image, and a city being eligible to apply for grants for city tree programs and receiving funds for storm management response.
The city still needs to approve a tree ordinance to become a Tree City.
Warsaw Park Board has approved the city working to become a Tree City.
The application to be part of the program is not due until Dec. 31 to the Arbor Day Foundation.
Nichols said a budget study for tree planting will be completed by July 12, and the final part is the city approving a tree ordinance.
A rough draft of the tree ordinance has been submitted to city attorney Mike Valentine, Nichols said.
The program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forestry Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
One of the requirements for the city to get the status is to have an Arbor Day celebration that the city held May 1. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer read a tree proclamation in May during the Arbor Day ceremony.
There were six trees planted in Warsaw, including two flowering pear trees at the east shelter in Central Park, one weeping cherry tree in Kelly Park, two Dogwood trees in Kiwanis Park and one weeping cherry tree outside the parks office.
The trees were donated by NIPSCO, and were planted by Dogwood Hills Tree Farm employees.
In other business, Richard Gaul, Warsaw, attended the meeting to ask the council if they have looked over information about smart meters that KREMC are installing in residents homes.
He presented the information at the city council’s May 21 meeting.
Thallemer suggested a representative from KREMC attend the next city council meeting to discuss the smart meters.
Follow staff writer Jennifer Peryam on Twitter at TUNews_Peryam
