Resident to talk trees at city council meeting

The following was originally published October 3, 2015.

Kris Schwichrath intends to present an admonition and a plan at Monday’s Shelbyville City Council meeting.

“We need to think of trees as infrastructure,” Schwichrath said in an interview with Saturday Shelby this week.

The agenda item discussion will focus on a need for long-term replacement planning and community interest.

Last week, Schwichrath gave a five hour historic walking tour of downtown to city consultant Ken Remenschneider and team, as well as city councilmen David Carmony, Dick Fero, and Ron Hamilton. The conversation turned to an old topic of lack of trees on Broadway and Colescott Streets, and dying trees in the circle. A 1986 article in The Shelbyville News discussed the decline of trees in town.

“Here we are, 30 years later; there is still no replacement program,” Schwichrath said.

Although some removal of trees in places like Colescott Street was due to state road construction, Schwichrath said the state is open to replacing trees during such work, but municipalities need a plan.

That plan, according to Schwichrath, could start either as a “tree board” or ordinance.

After attending a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tree steward class and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Master Naturalist program, Schwichrath believes City Council serves as a good launch point. But it will take community buy-in to accomplish long-term goals.

“We need citizens to participate,” she said. “It can’t just be a city project.”

Several citizens and groups already contribute. One Shelbyville High School (SHS) student planted trees, that now need cycled out, behind the Porter Center a few years ago.

Behind another SHS science class initiative, led by teacher Chris Lux, the planting of “101 trees of Indiana” continues at Blue River Memorial Park next week. With almost 50 trees already represented, the City Parks Department and Duke Energy partnered to fund and maintain the trees.

Given that trees require significant watering the first three years following planting, Schwichrath believes the city could play a role in assisting with maintenance.

Despite historical challenges, Schwichrath sees ample reason for hope.

“There’s no blaming here, it’s just time to add trees,” she said.

Current city tree highlights include the intersection of Broadway and Miller Streets, where 200 year old specimens stand.

“Clearly, when the town was being built and the roads were put in, those trees were deliberately left there,” Schwichrath said. “It’s as old as the city.”

With the state’s bicentennial approaching next year, Schwichrath believes it’s time to rewrite the script.

She said that several of the large ash trees in town can be saved

“I’m not saying we can save them all,” she said, but noted that it will cost more in the long run in liability to let the trees die.

With a premise that trees increase property value and filter rainwater more efficiently than sewers, Schwichrath intends to ask for City Council consideration. As the City reviews downtown redevelopment and quality of life trail paths, she sees trees as a natural part of the discussion.

“Let’s do this right,” Schwichrath said. “We all have a stake in this place.”

With recent successful First Friday events and various other planning initiatives in place, Schwichrath wishes to seize the moment on Monday in her presentation to City Council.

“We have all of the parts,” she said, “We just need to put them together.” For Schwichrath, Monday’s City Council meeting is the place to begin.