Village Begins Removing Infected Ash Trees

Oak Lawn Public Works arborist Heather Green said The village plans to remove 490 of the 1,600 infected green and white ash trees in the coming months, the bulk targeted near 107th Street and Cicero Avenue.

The public works department’s arborist Heather Green has described the virulent pest as being at "epidemic proportions" in Oak LAwn.

For help in identifying, removing infected trees and preventing the spread of the emerald ash borer, check out LOCAL FACTS.

The village will remove trees on the public way at no cost to homeowners. Infected trees on private property are the responsibility of property owners, and must be removed at the property owner’s expense.

Should infected trees on private property threaten the public way, the village can enact an ordinance requiring the property owner to remove it.

Two public meetings are planned for 7 p.m. April 5, and at 10 a.m. April 13, at the Dist. 218 administration building at 10701 S. Kilpatrick Ave.