Administrative staff and Parks Superintendent Jim Barlow have struck a deal with Mill Creek Nurseries to offer a 15 percent discount to Libertyville residents whose parkway ash trees have been removed because of emerald ash borer damage.

The discount program, announced by trustee and parks and recreation committee Chairman Drew Cullum at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, will allow affected residents to purchase a new 2- to 2.5-inch parkway tree for $254. 

Barlow reported at the parks committee meeting on July 5 that 27 trees in Libertyville neighborhoods must be removed this summer because of the emerald ash borer. Last year, seven trees were removed, and the program will apply to those residents as well.

“Probably in eight to 10 years, the entire population of ash trees will be gone,” Barlow said during his report.

At the July 5 meeting, committee members expressed their concerns about the costs of replacement for the residents and asked village staff members to try to find a discount program with local nurseries. Mill Creek Nursery of Wadsworth is offering this program to the village but it requiring a minimum 20-tree order.

The trees will be ordered by the village, planted by the nursery, and will come with a one-year warranty. Residents wishing to purchase a tree for their private property can do so at a cost of $354.

At Tuesday’s meeting, village trustees also approved the purchase of a new plow and salt truck for the Public Works Department at a cost of $132,130 from Prairie International Truck Sales. Public Works Director John Heinz said that the truck will replace an older vehicle and informed trustees that two trucks in the village’s fleet are being outfitted for chipping to help clean up the downed trees and limbs from Monday’s storm.

Mayor Terry Weppler thanked the staff for their work in the storm’s aftermath, saying that it was, “10 minutes of blowing and will be weeks of cleanup.”

Village Administrator Kevin Bowens stated that 4,493 Libertyville residents lost power after Monday’s storm, but as of late Tuesday afternoon, power had been restored to 2,968 of them.