Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

 

Meeting Minutes

January 15, 2004

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

90 West Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

Jon Allen

City of Savage

Bruce Bacon

City of Ramsey

Ryan Blaedow

U of MN Graduate Student

Kirk Brown

Tree Trust

David W Davis

Woodland Advisor

Tim Edgeton

Sherburne County

Paul Edwardson

City of Bloomington

Dave Hanson

U of MN

James Hermann

Minneapolis Parks and Recreation

Katie Himanga

Heartwood Forestry

Ken Holman

MN DNR, Forestry

Dan Keiser

Oakman Arboretum

Barb Kirkpatrick

Tree Care Advisor

Brian Loeffelholz

U of MN

Michael Max

EnvironMentor Systems, Inc.

Sandy McCartney

Private Consultant

Steve Nicholson

Kunde Co., Inc

Steve Shimek

Mn Dept of Ag

Mark Schnobrich

City of Hutchinson

Jennifer Shillcox

Community Growth Institute

Ken Simons

Ramsey County Parks and Recreation

Barb Spears

Community Forestry Resource Center

Katharine Widin

Plant Health Associates

Kimberly Thielen-Cremers

Mn Dept of Ag

Kathy Ward

North Central Research Station

 

The program was started without a quorum by Ken Simons, President @ 9:36 a.m.  President Simons started the program by complementing former President Lorrie Stromme for her outstanding leadership and commitment to MNSTAC.

 

President Simons reported that he is enthusiastically committed to lead MNSTAC for the next 3 years.  He is seeking advice from a group of agency advisors and others to help him understand what is being done and what needs to be done for urban and community forestry.  He stated that he will devote 20 hours a week to MNSTAC and its goals.

 

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS:

Ken Holman introduced Jennifer Shillcox with the Community Growth Institute.  The growth institute is working with DNR to initiate a comprehensive community forestry plan for the City of Emily.

 

Additional guests included: David W. Davis, Woodland Advisor; Ryan Blaedow, Graduate student, U of MN; Kathy Ward, USFS, North Central Research Station; Paul Edwardson, Maintenance Manager, City of Bloomington

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CALENDAR ITEMS:

Ken Holman announced the Rochester Urban Forestry Workshop.  It will be held at the Heintz Center on Friday February 27th.  The theme will be Big Trees.  Speakers will include: Gary Johnson, Jay Maier, Tom Dunlap, Lance Sorensen and Ed Hayes.  Contact Ed Hayes @ ed.hayes@dnr.state.mn.us or call him @ 507-285-7431 if you would like more information

 

Ken Holman reported the latest edition of the Advocate has been mailed.  It has the wrong dates for the Shade Tree Short Course.  The correct dates are 23 – 24 March.

 

Barb Spears reported that there will be community workshops sponsored by the Minnesota Forestry Association and the Community Forestry Resource Center.  They will be held in the spring.  The workshops will be on horse logging, managing invasive species, and chain saw safety.  She is seeking recommendations for workshop locations.  She can be reached at 612-870-3407. 

 

Call to Order.  Ken Simons, President, called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m.  

.

Approval of Minutes.  The minutes of December, 18 2003 meeting were reviewed and approved.  Motion/ Second: Michael Max/ Mark Schnobrich/ Passed

 

Elections.  The following people are elected to membership in MNSTAC: Jennifer Shillcox, David W Davis, Paul Edwardson, Kathy Ward, and Ryan Blaedow.  Motion/ Second: Ken Holman/ Michael Max/ Passed

 

AGENCY UPDATES:

DNR Forestry.  Ken Holman reported that DNR in partnership with Tree Trust sent out a form to ReLeaf grant recipients to identify and respond to their technical assistant needs.

 

MN Department of Agriculture.  Kimberly Thielen-Cremers reported that the recalled Christmas decorations that contained infested pine cones were analyzed.  The MDA identified only native pests in the recalled cones.

 

She reported that there were only 636 Certified Tree Inspectors this year.  She expects approximately 200 additional inspectors to be certified shortly.  Last year the State had 980 Certified Tree Inspectors.

 

Thielen-Cremers reported that there were only 172 companies registered with the State’s Tree Care Company Registry.  State law now requires companies and people who remove trees, limbs, branches, brush or shrubs for hire to register with the State of Minnesota.  You can register on line @ http://www.mda.state.mn.us/tcr  There is no cost for registration.

 

She reported that MNLA is sponsoring an education day on invasive insects called Insects of Mass Destruction.  The day will include updates on the emerald ash borer and the Asian Long horned beetle.  It will be held on the 2nd of March at the Earl Brown Center.  For information call 651-633-4987 or email jillschaffner@mnlandscape.org

 

Steve Shimek reported that the Departments inspection of Christmas trees for pine shoot beetles and gypsy moths revealed no infestations.

 

COMMITTEE UPDATES:

Legislative Committee.  Mark Schnobrich, Chair of the Legislative Committee reported that he is recruiting members to be on the committee.  There are many needs, from concept through reporting to Legislators.  For additional information contact Mark Schnobrich @ 320-234-4459

 

Forest Health Sub Committee.  Kathy Widin reported that the committee will be meeting next month to discuss the focus of the committee’s work.  Invasive are one of the suggested initiatives.

 

She reported that she authored an article, “Alien Invaders,” in the December issue of Minnesota State Horticulture’s Northern Gardener.  The article provides an overview about invasive insects that have been in the news.

 

Featured Presentation: “Impact of Land Use Planning On Oak Forest Health and Oak Forest Extent” Speaker: Brian Loeffelholz, University of MN.  (One CEU applied for) 

 

Adjournment.  M/S/Carried to adjournment: Michael Max/ Steve Nicholson.  The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted, Kirk M. Brown