ALTAMONT, IL -(Effingham Radio)- The City of Altamont on April 16, 2018 has been named a Tree City USA, Mayor Jason D. Rippetoe said today.
“This marks the 33rd time that the city has received this national recognition, he added.
“Tree City USA recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation is a symbol of how important our community trees are to us.”
The National Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit education organization that helps people plant and care for trees. Communities receive Tree City USA designation upon recommendations by state foresters, who co-sponsor the program along with the USDA Forest Service.
To become a Tree City USA, a community must have a tree care ordinance, a legal tree governing body, a comprehensive urban forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.
Different from the past years 2018 will see the Altamont City Tree Board, the Altamont Garden Club, the Altamont High School FFA Chapter, the Altamont Lions Club and the Altamont school children from different elementary school classes combining their efforts to participate in renewing our urban forest.
The Tree City USA flag and other recognition materials will be presented to Mr. Daniel Milleville, the Altamont Street and Alley Commissioner as well as Public Improvements on Friday April 27, 2018 at 10:00 AM.
The planting will be held at Union Cemetery as the identical time observing the Arbor Day planting. ‘
Also following this planting, a memorial plantings will also be placed in Union Cemetery in memory of Margaret Berkbigler (42 yrs); Dorothy Grant (20 yrs) Maria Syoen (17 yrs) by the Altamont Garden Club.
This year’s celebration will have Mrs. Carol Tillman from the Altamont Garden Club present the keynote address, as well as the planting of the special trees.
The 2018 Altamont Tree Committee appointed in accordance with the City Ordinance No. 191 has attempted to keep this ordinance in the guidelines of its intentions and fulfillments to the residences of the City of Altamont.
Those guidelines are outlined in this ordinance and should be the nature of the Altamont City Council to abide with the guidelines of such an ordinance.
The Altamont Tree Board members include Anthony Arend, Terry Woodward, Jerry Hoffmeister, Lynn A. Kull and City Clerk Sarah Stephen.
Funds for planting have been depleted and almost removed from the City budget. However, much effort has been directed toward the maintenance of Altamont’s Urban Forrest.
The Green Emerald Ash Borer is seeming to be an enemy of our tree populace.
Our City government’s thoughts are becoming absent, because of 32 years of efforts toward planting and City beautification has almost become extinct.
This year it is the intention to remove the ash that have been destroyed by the emerald borer, and replace them by utilizing our inventory of White Oak trees planted as seedlings in the past years at Union Cemetery.