Hurley streets receive new trees

HURLEY - Around 20 volunteers from different local organizations and agencies braved cold, rainy weather to help plant trees across the city of Hurley on Tuesday.

The planting is part of a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Start-Up Grant. Hurley received 17 trees of different varieties, including white and red oak and Ironwood. Trees were planted along Maple and Poplar streets and Sixth and Seventh avenues.

According to Don Kissinger, regional urban forestry coordinator for the WDNR, the city is not planting maple trees because there are already quite a few in the city. As part of the grant, the municipality can have less than 10 percent of any one tree in order for more of that kind to be planted.

"Maple trees are very popular across the state," Kissinger said. "We wanted more variety."

Each of the trees planted in Hurley were grown at the Birchfield Nursery in Rhinelander, Wis., and were 7 years old from seed.

"We are putting these trees back from where we took trees during our infrastructure projects," Pinardi said. "Many trees had to be removed during the water and sewer work, so we are replacing those trees."

Hurley is eligible to apply for the start-up grant two more times, and can receive a maximum of $5,000 each time, Kissinger said. The goal of the grants is to get communities started, so they can begin funding projects themselves in the future.

"We want them to be successful," Kissinger said.

Funding from the grants can be used for planting trees, pruning, tree removal, perform an inventory of trees or education purposes.

Municipalities that receive the grant have to supply a 50-50 match, whether in cash or by using their own equipment and employees. The city of Hurley used employees and equipment from it's public works department to make the project happen.

Other groups helping with the planting included the Iron County University of Wisconsin-Extension office, the Hurley City Council, Hurley Police Department, Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce and other volunteers.

"It was good to see that turnout," Pinardi said. "It's always nice when the community gets involved."

Kissinger also talked to the volunteers about possibly having the city become a "Tree City USA," which is a way to promote economic development.

"It's a basic level of taking care of green infrastructure," Kissinger said. "It promotes businesses coming to the area, because often times they see the community taking care of their trees and businesses think if they take care of that so well, they may also take care of businesses well."

In order to become a "Tree City USA," the city would have to have a forestry board to oversee the trees, have a tree ordinance, spend $2 per capita on equipment to maintain trees and have an Arbor Day celebration each year.

Amy Nosal, an AmeriCorps Vista with the Iron County UW-Extension office, has worked with middle school students at the Hurley K-12 School on why trees are important to the community and also created care plans for the trees, something also required to become a "Tree City USA."

After Kissinger explained that project, he dived into showing the volunteers how to properly plant trees, something that he said was not a "short job.

"Planting doesn't take five minutes," he said. "You want this to live 25, 50, 100 or 125 years, so you have to do it correctly."

As for the new 17 trees throughout Hurley, it's a "win-win," according to Kissinger.

"We want to make sure these communities are successful with their efforts," Kissinger said. "They have done a great job."

For more information, call the city of Hurley offices at 715-561-4715.