All of Lemont's Ash Trees Could Disappear

Blame it on the green bug. 

Lemont will lose nearly all of its 2,000 ash trees to infestation by emerald ash borers, Public Works Director Ralph Pukula told CBS. 

At a cost of $250–300 for removal and disposal for each tree, the Village may have to dip into its fund balance to cover the cost, Mayor Brian Reaves said Monday. 

But the borer burden goes beyond the task of tearing them down and chopping them up. Residents have grown accustomed to the trees towering in public parkways and yards. 

"The trees added so much to the community," resident Nancy Tokarz told CBS. "You can see them dying before your eyes."

Lemont Public Works Director Ralph Pukula told trustees Monday that trees near power lines, or those that are a danger to people or property, will be higher priority for removal.

The trees must be disposed of by a licensed hauler—then ground and treated, Mayor Brian Reaves said during the meeting.

The Village is researching options for replacing the trees; for every five it cuts down, Lemont can only afford to plant one. 

Residents who believe an ash tree nearby might be infested should contact Public Works. For those like Tokarz whose love for the trees have grown over time, the trees' demise is devastating. 

“It’s like a member of your family,” Torkarz told CBS. "...It's heartbreaking."

Watch the full segment on CBS. 

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