Ramsey Resident - 2002 - May/June

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12 YOUR CITY NEWSLETTER The Ramsey Resident newsletter is paid for with public funds and is intended to provide public information about community events and local government. All inquiries and comments regarding the newsletter are welcome and should be directed to the newsletter coordinator. All articles for publication in the Ramsey Resident newsletter should be submitted by the 8th of each month, or the preceeding Friday if the 8th is on a weekend, to: Newsletter Coordinator City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 If you have any questions, call the Newsletter Coordinator at 427 -1410. The City of Ramsey reserves the right to determine what may appear in this newsletter. This newsletter is read and obtained with the understanding that the information presented is from varied sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility as to accuracy or completeness. CITY OF RAMSEY: Mayor: Tom Gamec 763 - 421 -7615 Councilmembers: Susan E. Anderson 763 -576 -1230 Terry Hendriksen 763 - 427 -8352 Patti Kurak 763 - 422 -9843 Gerald Zimmerman 763 - 753 -4387 City Administrator: James E. Norman 763 - 427 -1410 Administrative Offices: 763- 427 -1410 Public Works Department: 763- 427 -8254 Parks Department: 763- 427 -8254 Police Department: 763- 427 -6812 Fire Department: 763 - 427 -3674 Fire and Police Emergency: 911 TDD: 763 - 427 -8591 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday WHY ARE SO MANY SCOTCH PINES DYING? Recently, Susan Burks, DNR Insect & Disease Specialist, and Jean Movelle, Utilization and Marketing Specialist, came to Ramsey to inspect Scotch Pine trees in the Traprock Commons Addition. Those trees are in decline and, in the next 10 years, 50% mortality is possible from Armillaria Root Rot, Bark Beetle, Lophodermium Needle Cast, Root Collar Weevil, and Stem Gall Rust, which are already evident. Scotch Pines are genetically poorly adapted to northerly climates where they become stressed, making them more susceptible to certain diseases and insects. Also their dense planting and very dense reseeding contribute to competition for water and nutrients, and set the conditions for disease transfer. The Traprock Commons site is a remnant tree farm. In many cases, tree farms are densely planted and trees are not thinned out. These trees can fail to mature and become vulnerable to disease. This particular site is very sandy with no organic matter and very poor water retention. Also, since a high percentage of trees in this neighborhood, nearly 95 %, are the same species, diseases spread easily from tree to tree. Burks and Movelle recommended a number of strategies to combat the decline in Scotch Pines. First, they recommend removing misshapen trees with brown needles, multiple stems, and broken stems. Disease control can only be effective after this thinning process is completed. Stand density must be decreased by half. Fire damage also needs to be addressed when planning thinning. If the residents consider a neighborhood thinning and fire plan, the DNR can access a cost share and advisory role. Next, they suggest using compost and chip mulch around the root zone of trees. The compost acts as a sponge to reduce leaching, and chip mulch insulates the root zone from drying, heat, and freezing. Finally, they recommend planning for the future with a mix of evergreens and deciduous trees that will best meet needs for visual screening, shade, windbreak, and color. Please contact Bruce Bacon, Environmental Specialist, (763- 433 - 9813), if you have dying or over dense pine plantings. We can work with Jean Movelle, (651- 772 - 7567), and the Ramsey Fire Department to develop a Ramsey "Firewise" landscape plan and recover value and use from logging. Ramsey Resident Ramsey Municipal Center 15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW Ramsey, MN 55303 PRSORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANOKA, MN 55303 PERMIT No. 131 POSTAL CUSTOMER