The City of Woodbury is considering creating a program to help homeowners pay for the removal of trees infected by the Emerald Ash Borer. “The rapidly increasing number of dead ash trees as EAB spreads around the community pose a safety and property hazard,” City Administrator Clint Gridley stated in a report to the city council.

The program would provide loans up to $20,000 modeled after a program that provides financial assistance for road projects. “The time is approaching when Community Development’s Code Enforcement Division may need to actively enforce condemnation and removal of dead hazardous Ash trees,” the report states. “Before moving in this direction, and to facilitate voluntary compliance, staff proposes creating a proactive approach program to provide qualified homeowners in Woodbury with financing assistance to spread out costs associated with the removal of EAB infested Ash trees on their private property.”

The city first confirmed the presence of EAB in Ash trees in the parking lot of the Woodbury Theater in August 2017. City staff have been removing infected trees and treating healthy ones on public property since then.

Funding for the $500,000 in financial assistance would come from the city’s general fund and be paid back over time. Staff recommends the money be set aside for the 2025-2027 fiscal years. 

Homeowners could access a projected city borrowing rate, paying back a loan of up to $5,000 in three years, $10,000 in five years, and $20,000 in seven years. The council could decide to offer a lower interest rate to lower income homeowners. If accepted into the program, the homeowner would hire a private contractor to remove the trees.

The council considered the program at its workshop Dec. 8. The proposal will eventually be heard at a regular council meeting.