06-23-1987 PTRC Meeting Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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• June 9, 1987 MSI Insurance - John Olson, Building & Grounds Supt. 11 Pinetree Drive Arden Hills, MId 55112 Dear John: Although I am a member of the Arden Hills Parks Board, I am writing this letter as a property owner in Arden Hills. My feelings in no way reflect the feelings of the Arden Hills Parks Board or anyone else in an official capacity with the City of Arden Hills. I recently walked your new pathway which has been constructed in the area immediatley to the south and east of your office building. I want to • compliment you on your concept; I'm sure that employees of MSI and neighboring residents will get a lot of use out of this pathway. I did notice that the heavy equipment used to clear this pathway has come very close to oak trees and in many places the grade has been changed by the addition of several inches of blacktop base. Generally, oak trees cannot withstand this type of trauma. Any change in grade or pressure of heavy equipment on the roots of oaks is very hard on them. I would estimate that anywhere from one-third to one-half of the oaks damaged in this manner will not survive in the next 5-6 years. Examples of this type of damage can be seen in many new home construction sites in the area. (Many wild flowers had been planted along the existing, natural pathway prior to the recent construction. These wildflowers were destroyed, but there was no way of your knowing this. ) I realize the grading and clearing has been done on MSI property and you can do with this property what you wish. I am more immediately concerned, however, with the damage done to oaks in the way of scraped bark, broken branches and in some instances, trimming. It is a well known fact among horticulturists and foresters that oaks should never be trimmed in the months of April, May and June. It is during these months that the picnic beetle is active. The picnic beetle transmits oak wilt from •