High school Ag class students planted trees this past April with Jefferson Tree Committee

An organization in Jefferson was recently awarded a grant to continue to replenish the tree count across the city.

The Jefferson City Council at their September 24th meeting, approved an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Jefferson Tree Committee, to accept a Living Roadside Trust Fund Grant of $11,000. City Administrator Scott Peterson says these funds will be used to plant over 100 trees on Olive and Locust Streets. He points out the Tree Committee started a program of planting trees on the north/south streets, going from the east side of town to the west. Peterson notes earlier this year, the committee planted trees on Cedar and got a few planted on Olive Street. 

Peterson appreciates the work of the Tree Committee for not only their administrative responsibilities but they are also very active in planting all of the trees to recoup the hundreds of trees that have been removed over the past couple of years due to the Emerald Ash Borer. 

“The Tree Committee is fantastic! And we’re very fortunate to have Brad Riphagen here in our community then too. Brad is a community consultant for the Trees Forever organization. But yes, thanks to the tree committee and largely through their efforts we’ve really made a good dent already in the reforesting of our community.”    

Peterson adds the trees are expected to be planted this fall on the city easements.