Chillicothe City Arborist Position Closer to Being Filled

Members of the Chillicothe Tree Commission work on moving trees in front of Memorial Armory as Yoctangee Park renovation started up.

A grant will allow the Chillicothe City Tree Commission to have stronger leadership soon. Council passed an ordinance to further refine a grant-funded city arborist position on Monday. Kathy Payne saw her ordinance pass on first reading on December 22nd.

When the city requested an “Inflation Reduction Act” grant for $300K from ODNR earlier this year, it included about $122K reserved for five years for a city arborist to “primarily be tasked to complete a city-wide inventory of all street and park trees and will also address tree preservation, pruning, planting, removal, and assessments…”

Council passed an ordinance authorizing the hire in September, and passed the other ordinance on Monday to set pay and benefits.

Chillicothe already has an award-winning tree commission. At their meeting on November 18th, they discussed the arborist position, and that one of their own might take the job.

The commission also discussed their usual caseload and workload of tree maintenance on city property and public right-of way, with a focus on dealing with trees in Yoctangee Park now that its renovation is underway.

Hear council member Payne in her own words below, as well as see photos shown in the last tree commission meeting, supplied by the city.

The Chillicothe Tree Commission usually meets third Tuesdays, and usually discusses requests, plans plantings, seeks grants from ODNR, and more. Find information on the commission on the city’s website.

Find the article on the Scioto Post. 

Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.

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    Members of the Chillicothe Tree Commission moved two ornamental upright Beech trees from in front of Memorial Armory to the park entrance, as Yoctangee Park renovation started up...

  • 2 of 7

    ...One could not be kept upright and was moved to Manor Park on the hilltop.

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    A glitch was found when digging a hole for one of the trees – a decayed water line. The commission mentioned that OUPS (Ohio Utility Protection Service – required by state law to be notified for construction digging) does not identify utility lines on private property. Besides, the water line valve was probably to Standard Elevator, demolished there in 1988.

  • 4 of 7

    A contractor for park renovations attempted to move a Magnolia near the front of Memorial Armory…

  • 5 of 7

    …The city replanted the Magnolia in Yoctangee Park near the floodwall and hopes it will recover.

  • 6 of 7

    The striking yellow fall color of a young Ginko during the season’s first snowfall, near the Yoctangee Park entrance.

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    Fall color over Yoctangee Lake, overseen by the tree commission.

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