Plainfield to buy 400 trees for parkways
By Madhu Mayer For The Herald-News September 11, 2012 9:04AM
Updated: October 14, 2012 1:23PM
PLAINFIELD — Up to 400 parkway trees soon will beautify the village of Plainfield.
The Plainfield Village Board on Monday waived the bidding process and authorized the purchase/installation of up to 400 parkway trees from the Suburban Tree Consortium at a cost not to exceed $140,000.
In 2005, the village joined the consortium, which is purchase program that offers quality trees at the lowest price, said Allen Persons, public works director.
“While we have not utilized the consortium program during the past three years due to our own budget constraints,” he said, “we believe that they are still the best resource for our parkway tree replacement program.”
Persons told the board that Arlington Heights, Aurora, Burr Ridge, Western Springs, New Lenox and Hinsdale are some of the communities that use the consortium.
Village Administrator Brian Murphy said the board is being asked to waive the bidding process simply because Plainfield is a member of the consortium.
“We get absolutely fantastic prices for trees (from the consortium),” Murphy said.
Persons said the village has sufficient budget funds to cover the cost to replace 400 parkway trees that were lost due to storm damage and/or disease. But there are challenges, as well, he said.
“Since the appearance of the emerald ash borer (an insect that destroys trees), the consortium has become a popular resource for our neighboring communities, and the availability of certain types of trees may be limited in the future,” he said.
Trustee Paul Fay asked how much money was in the village coffers for the parkway tree replacement program. Murphy replied that the municipality budgeted $200,000.
Persons said the plan is to have the Forestry Division of the Public Works Department meet with residents who have been impacted by emerald ash borer, many of whom live in the Champion Creek subdivision and had their parkway trees removed last winter.
Staff will also contact other residents to coordinate parkway tree replacements.
Tree plantings are scheduled to take place in November.
