Village of Lemont approves contracts for tree removal, bridge repairs

LEMONT The Lemont Village Board has agreed to pay Homer Tree Care Inc. to start removing some of its ash trees infected by the emerald ash borer.

On Monday, the board voted in favor of removing at least 252 ash trees in Glenys and McCarthy Point subdivisions at a cost of $205 per tree.

Public Works Director Ralph Pukula said his department is negotiating with Homer Tree Care on whether to remove more trees this year. The village has $60,000 allocated towards tree removal and replacement, with the intention of completely focusing on tree removal this year.

Mayor Brian Reaves said the village is also looking at the alternative of doing a mass cut of its infected trees and paying the cost over several years.

Reaves said the village is trying to be aggressive while still being cost effective. He estimated it would cost about $450,000 to remove all of the village's 2,000 ash trees. Replacements will cost about $300 per tree, he said.

"It's a million dollar problem we have now," he said.

Pukula said the tree removal could start in mid-July.

Reaves said the public works department should try to personally inform residents whose ash trees are being cut down.

The board also approved a bid for $211,068 to repair the Stephen Street bridge over the I&M Canal and the Old Lemont Road bridge over the Des Plaines River.

According to the meeting agenda, the work will consist of: sealing the concrete cracks in the structure decks and substructure; repairing the concrete; installing new bearing retainer angles; cleaning and painting existing bearings; placing stone riprap; replacing existing preformed and neoprene expansion joints; installing vertical clearance signs; repairing and cleaning structure drainage systems; and completing all incidental and collateral work.

The rest is here:
Village of Lemont approves contracts for tree removal, bridge repairs