Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

Membership Meeting Minutes

September 18, 2003, 9:30am – 11:30a.m.
Eagan’s New Community Center
Eagan, MN
www.mnstac.org

The meeting was called to order at 9:35 a.m. by Lorrie Stromme, President, on Thursday, September 18, 2003, at Eagan’s new Community Center, Eagan, MN.  Our host, Gregg Hove, welcomed folks to the beautiful new facility, distributed copies of the Summer 2003 issue of the Shade Tree Advocate (featuring a story about Eagan’s Grandfather oak tree), and provided coffee and refreshments.

 

There were 20 members present, including a new member, Steve Thompson of Rainbow Treecare.  Motion to welcome Steve Thompson as a new member of MnSTAC/Second/Carried: Gary R. Johnson/James Burks.


Approval of Minutes. The minutes of the 7/17/03 MnSTAC membership meeting were reviewed and approved.  Motion/Second/Carried: Ken Holman/Sue Burks.

 

Announcements, Open Forum, Calendar Items:
Ken Holman announced 3 opportunities for Certified Tree Inspector training: October 27 in Waseca, October 29 in Staples, and October 31 at U of MN Morris.  The theme is Tree Risk Management.   Ken also announced that the national urban forest conference was underway in San Antonio, Texas.  Michael Max, MnSTAC Vice-President, is attending and will give an update on the conference at the October MnSTAC meeting.

 

Susan Burks reported that the US Forest Service’s brand new Community Tree Risk Management manual is available on-line and on CD-Rom.

 

Gary Johnson announced that the 2004 Shade Tree Short Course would be held March 23-24 at Bethel College in Arden Hills, MN.


Agency and Committee Reports.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).  Kimberly Thielen-Cremers, Gypsy Moth Program coordinator, reported that a new state law became effective on July 1, 2003, requiring tree care companies to register with the MDA.  There is no registration fee.  The purpose is to enable the MDA to alert tree care companies quickly about gypsy moth quarantines and other invasives. The Tree Care Registry is on-line at www.mda.mn.us.

 

Kimberly also reported three gypsy moth (GM) quarantine breaches in Minnesota, stemming from nursery stock from Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York.  The problem was contained at the nursery level.  One nursery burned all conifers in stock (a $40,000 loss).  MDA found one GM infestation in Edina recently; it will be treated in the Spring of 2004.  In 2002, 118 gypsy moths were found in Minnesota.  In 2003, 330 moths were trapped in Minnesota.  MDA nursery inspectors are closely monitoring nursery stock other invasives, particularly ash trees for emerald ash borer (EAB).  In Michigan, a new unit with 100 government employees has been established to deal with outbreaks of EAB.  Asian long-horned beetle (ALB) has been found in Toronto.  To be prepared for future invasives, MDA is developing a Pest Rapid Response Policy and establishing an inter-agency Invasive Species Advisory Council.

 

Department of Natural Resources.  Susan Burks announced that the North Central Forest Pest Workshop would take place at the Cloquet Forestry Center during the week of September 22nd.  Ken Holman reported that MnReleaf grant applications have been processed for oak wilt, and the remaining applications would be processed in the next week.

 

Minnesota Society of Arboriculture (MSA).  James Burks reported on the recent MSA Fall Workshop, where Tom Smiley was the keynote speaker on new standards in the tree care industry.  Jim Nayes will succeed Rich Hauer as MSA President.  Paul Buck was elected MSA Vice-president.  Chad Brey won the MSA Tree Climbing Championship. 

 

MN Department of Transportation.  Paul Walvatne opined that there is too much work and not enough people to do it. “The roads are looking a little wooly,” he said, because of the droughty summer and the prevalence of Canadian thistle. He reported that Dutch elm disease (DED) is way up.  Elms are under stress, owing to the current drought and the 2002-03 winter with scanty snow cover.  Sanitation is crucial, and he encouraged the removal of alley elms that plant themselves along fence lines.  “It takes a career to protect our trees.”

 

University of Minnesota. Gary R. Johnson said the prior week’s rains did very little to help trees that have suffered a summer of drought.  U of MN Forest Resources has prepared a public fact sheet/news release called, “Take Care of Thirsty Trees.”  He advised that folks line up winter pruning now, instead of waiting to contact tree services during the winter months.  Gary reported that Accolade elm is performing very well, even during the drought, on the Nicollet Island brownfield study site. 

 

Elections and Constitution.  Ken Simons reported that there will be two non-designated open positions on the MnSTAC Board as of January 1, 2004.  “Non-designated” positions are to be filled by MnSTAC members who are not employees of MDA, DNR, MnDOT, or the University of Minnesota.  People should send Ken nominations or self-nominations by November 1, 2003.  The Elections committee is also taking suggestions for MnSTAC president for the 2004-06 term. Lorrie Stromme has said that she is not available to serve a second term. 

 

Feature Presentation:  “Landscape Management and Update on Eagan’s Grandfather Oak.”  Presenter: Gregg Hove, Supervisor of Forestry, City of Eagan.   

 

Gregg Hove gave a PowerPoint photo tour of the 60-acre site where Eagan’s new Community Center was built.  He reviewed the steps involved in general site planning, the roadway layout, stormwater management, and woodland management for the Center.  He also showed the steps involved in moving the Grandfather Oak.  National Shade in Houston, Texas, was selected to move the tree, because of its experience in moving “super trees.”  National claimed that the Grandfather Oak was the smaller tree it had ever moved!  The tree weighed 250 tons and it took all day to move the tree 100 feet to its new location. The 6-foot-deep x 30-foot-diameter root ball was hand-dug.  The majority of roots were ½-inch diameter roots.  The cost to move the tree was $50,000, all of which was raised by private donations via the Eagan Foundation.

 

Gregg also talked about the post-move management plan for the tree.  The plan includes monitoring, root stimulators, aerial photos and infrared satellite images of the canopy, irrigation, crown misting, organic mulch, a protective fence around the root zone, and Cambistat applications.  Today, the tree shows is doing quite well.  Some decline can be expected after the move, but the tree put out a decent crop of acorns in 2003. 

 

Adjournment.  The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.  Gregg Hove then led a tour of the Community Center grounds, including a visit to the nearby Grandfather Oak.