Forty-three dead or dying ash trees were removed from Bluffton tree lawns and the Buckeye and village park in 2011. That information was released in the 2011 Bluffton Tree Commissions annual work plan to Bluffton council.

A complete copy of the report is in an attachment at the bottom of this story.

The Tree Commission's first and foremost issue in 2011 was dealing with the emerald ash borer invasion. A grant received from the Western Lake Erie basin ash remova/replacement grant was awarded to the village this past year. It assisted in the removal of the dead trees and in the replacement of those trees with a diversity of future shade trees.

Tree Commission members are: Joanne Antibus, chair, and Berch Carpenter, Linda Houshower, Becky Ramey and Jon Sommer. Mitch Kingsley is the council representative.

The complete report follows in the attachments.