Edgar's Tree City USA Award

Edgar first applied for the Tree City USA designation in 1995 With the support and encouragement of our Forestry and Conservation representative from the Department of Natural Resources, we have maintained Edgar’s standing as a Tree City USA for 14 years.

Edgar must meet four standards to continue to be a Tree City USA.

1. There must be a forestry department. Paul Schilling is the Village Forester.

2. Edgar must have a local tree ordinance. Village Code of Ordinance, Sec. 6-4 fills this requirement.

3. The Village must spend a minimum of $2.00 per capita on forestry programs. In 2005, the Village’s population was 1449. That means that we were expected to spend at least $2898.00. With tree replacements and removals, curbside chipping, annual pruning, and other activities, we generally exceed the required expenditure.

4. The Village must promote Arbor Day. In cooperation with Edgar Elementary School, an annual Arbor Day/Earth Day program has been incorporated into their curriculum which also includes: Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle as methods of being good stewards of the earth.

Arbor Day celebrations are held annually in April at Edgar Public School. The picture below shows Don Kissinger from the DNR and Paul “Skimp” Schilling, Village Forester, planting a tree along with a group of students from the elementary school.

For more information about the Tree City USA program, visit the National Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org