[0:02] We'll welcome everyone to the August 19th meeting of the tree board, beautification board, tree advisory board. We'll call the meeting to order. It's like we do have a quorum. First order of business is approval of the minutes from May 20th, 2026. Are there any additions or corrections? If not, can I get a motion for approval? I make a motion to approve. Second. Second.

[0:30] Okay, so we have a motion and a second.

[0:33] So the meeting minutes are approved.

[0:37] Next, we have some visitors out in the audience.

[0:40] Anybody from the audience have any questions for the tree board?

[0:43] They'd like to bring up right off the bat?

[0:47] No?

[0:50] Okay, well let's just keep moving right along, then some kind of unfinished business.

[0:55] Jack kind of updated a little bit last time on the native wildflower meta.

[0:59] Jack, do you have an additional update this time?

[1:03] I'm going to pass that on to Josh.

[1:06] Josh?

[1:19] On the wildflower garden, yes.

[1:21] We have already exceeded the three sprains that they requested

[1:26] with the rain and humidity.

[1:29] The annual weeds are still continuing to germinate.

[1:33] So we're probably next week going to do a fourth application

[1:38] on that area. And then I think in September is when they want to plant on that.

[1:49] So does April

[1:49] have like a meeting set up to do any more planning or are they just going to handle it from this

[1:54] point or do you know? They are supposed to be handling it from this point. All we were supposed to be

[2:00] doing is just spraying it out over the summer. All right, cool. Well, I'll be exciting. Have a little

[2:06] in that park, that would be fun.

[2:08] Next, a little update on the re-circulization and pedestrian improvement plans that you

[2:13] Sarah?

[2:14] It is.

[2:15] I believe that our last meeting, I updated that we were, our report came back clear from

[2:23] our archeological study, so the state has since approved that, and we are now working with

[2:30] the architecture and engineering firm on design and we should and bid documents to prepare

[2:37] and we should be going out to bid in the fall. So, that project is moving right along.

[2:43] After we have the design, I will be coming back to you all and looking at

[2:50] the walking trails, see what we can do to extend the arboretum. We'll look at where the trails

[2:57] is actually going and we'll be able to know where we need to plan and make a plan from there.

[3:02] That sounds exciting.

[3:07] Okay, next unfinished business has to do with Arboretum replacement labels, new map.

[3:13] As you can see on your sheet, we have our new branding, it is reflected within the agenda today.

[3:22] And so we're working on getting those updated and Denise has been working with, has been

[3:28] We're trying to find a company to do some mapping for us for the Arboretum so we can have a more professional looking map.

[3:34] So those things are in the works and you should have a more thorough update at the next meeting.

[3:40] That sounds great, that's exciting.

[3:42] And thanks Denise.

[3:45] All right, new business, all beautification and cleanup event.

[3:50] We are going to do our annual free day at the convenience center that's going to be on the 10th of October.

[4:02] And following that on the 17th is going to be the hazardous waste cleanup.

[4:07] Or the hazardous waste drop off and that will happen at the visitor center at Mossry Park.

[4:13] We will have hopefully in the next two or three weeks we'll be putting some information out about that.

[4:18] but we did want to put that on you all on your radar.

[4:23] Good, all right, a beautification update.

[4:30] I do not have anything at this time.

[4:32] You don't?

[4:33] You don't.

[4:34] You have a microphone to talk.

[4:35] I know, I was glad Sarah had something.

[4:38] As far as an update to one of the things

[4:40] that we did want to update you all about is we,

[4:44] Julie has been working on the Doctor Street program

[4:50] and she's going to be sitting out in an email

[4:52] to all of the people who have current, who are current, most current, I would say, in the Adoptistory Program.

[5:01] And we're going to have everybody reapply.

[5:04] We have most of the ones that we've had, it doesn't look like they've done any type of cleanup since 2023.

[5:10] We require four clean-ups annually.

[5:12] So we're going to be reaching out to those groups first to try to get them back on track.

[5:16] We're going to have them reapply and get them their information.

[5:18] And from there we have some additional streets that we're going to be pushing out for other groups to look at adopting.

[5:26] So that will be coming out, and I think Julie's working on that this week,

[5:30] pushing that information out to the initial people, and then we'll go from there.

[5:34] We do have new signage that is consistent with the new branding that will be replacing those blue signs that we have.

[5:40] So you'll see those start to change as we start having people adopt streets.

[5:44] it's cool. I don't understand lettering, I can't explain that to you. All right, next

[5:56] is future beautification and treat advisory board initiatives. I don't know a little

[6:00] bit of this is kind of dependent on the park improvement plan and it going forward. We

[6:06] don't want to get too far ahead of those kind of things, but is there anything else on the

[6:11] a horizon that you know of. We need to be working on.

[6:17] We would love to have this board help us once we identify those that do want to adopt

[6:22] a street. Filling the gaps and helping find other organizations are connecting as we

[6:28] would love assistance with that and getting all of our streets adopted. The public works

[6:35] team does litter pickup throughout the week and parks are always doing litter pickup at the

[6:41] parks as well. We also have our mowing service that modes the interstates, they do litter pickup,

[6:48] but there's not a shortage of litter, so if we can help push those groups to do the

[6:56] adopter street program, I think that that would be extremely beneficial for us as a city.

[7:01] Well, I do the conglomerate every week, and it does pick up, and then the next day it's already littered

[7:09] again, so again, which people were a little more considerate.

[7:15] Any other beautification or future projects anybody wants to talk about?

[7:21] I kind of have one.

[7:25] I'm going to talk about the new Pickleball Court resurfacing.

[7:30] That is, it's going to be beautiful.

[7:32] It is.

[7:34] As we were talking about earlier, right now projected start date is next week.

[7:39] week. We have not heard from their crew yet but that is still what's on us, the projected

[7:45] start date is next week with that project. So I did talk to him this week and the

[7:54] week of the 24th is the plan of the start date, whether it be the 24th they start on but

[7:59] this next week is definitely. The whole project is grinding the surface all the way down

[8:05] to the pavement, getting all the paint off, it is going to be at least a 19-day process,

[8:15] whether it doesn't come in and rain them out or anything like that, so.

[8:20] That's a long process, so using 100 grit sandpaper, you'd have to ask that company.

[8:27] But again, one thing that, you know, the land right behind the Pickleball Courts, kind of the hill going up,

[8:33] Is that part of the park or is that part of the apartment complex?

[8:37] That's part of the park.

[8:38] Because it would be nice to have some additional trees kind of more up at the top

[8:44] to kind of continue to block the sun in the evening.

[8:47] Yeah, we've got we've got several trees there now.

[8:50] But again, if we could get some more kind up towards the top of the hill,

[8:53] and as they mature, that kind of blocks that afternoon evening sun,

[8:59] is that possible?

[9:01] Yes.

[9:02] We have a budget specific for this, so that's something we can absolutely look at.

[9:09] I don't know how easy it is to access that area.

[9:12] It's kind of not too bad, not too bad.

[9:16] But especially if we could put trees that kind of stay evergreen and even through the winter

[9:23] time still have kind of some sun blocking ability, something you would like.

[9:33] Okay, okay, all right, next is report from staff members, anybody have any updates?

[9:43] Eddie, you have anything exciting happening?

[9:49] Biggest update for us is just as we hopefully finish the heat we've just experienced, you

[9:57] You know, the more we ride around, the more we are seeing the tops of some very mature trees starting to brown out.

[10:03] I know Jack and myself is looking at a couple of 80-foot tall pinnocks that are starting to brown out at the top, so that's just something to be aware.

[10:13] I don't know if this is a combination of ice storm stuff, last year drought, followed by eating all that.

[10:20] but our start to see some weird looking things on a lot of trees around with that.

[10:33] And also just to touch on a little bit more on the pickle ball renovations.

[10:38] I think we've done a really good job in the last year improving those courts.

[10:44] Putting the lighting in has helped a lot.

[10:46] And then of course the new nets as well will help in the future

[10:51] from the surfacing cracking from the courts or from the nets bowing in together.

[10:59] Obviously, the reasoning for Chris' comment on the trees is because when the sun goes down

[11:04] it blinds one half of the courts, which makes it a little bit tough to see.

[11:09] So if that is possible, yeah, that would be great.

[11:11] And evergreens would be most beneficial so we don't get the leaves on the courts as well.

[11:16] And then as far as one other update on the disc golf course,

[11:19] We try, this will be the first year, we're approaching, I think, a year now of the Disgolf

[11:26] Corps being opened.

[11:29] Josh's team, the Parks team, switches out all the baskets twice a year and they just completed

[11:35] that in July.

[11:37] So every six months we adjust the baskets for their locations, there's two separate locations

[11:44] and they did a good job with that.

[11:46] I was there about two weeks ago and cleaned up the course and it was actually in pretty good shape considering all the rain and we've had there's there was not a ton of trash or debris, which was really nice to see.

[12:02] Thanks.

[12:03] Any other staff members having comments?

[12:06] No.

[12:08] Tara?

[12:08] I just want to reiterate, we do have a budget specific for tree, so if there is, if you all learn of a need in the community, or if there's an area that you would like to see us focus on in our parks or any of our public facilities, we're happy to look at those and have that discussion.

[12:26] Well, you know, it's still too hot now, but we're getting closer to a better time of the year to plant than

[12:34] August, so

[12:36] So again if we could do something this this fall it'd be great

[12:41] Comments from board and staff

[12:43] Anybody

[12:45] Mr. Chairman if you don't mind so today will be my last meeting with you all and I just want to thank you all for what you do because sitting around

[12:57] in here this morning I realize that this board probably does more from their

[13:03] heart than any board that we have because you truly want to make a

[13:07] difference and each of you may know a whole lot to me very special to me very

[13:14] special to the girls for community even though I am semi retiring I will still be

[13:22] here and willing to help in any way. The great thing is Ms. Julie High has been chosen to take my

[13:32] place on October 1st and she will do a phenomenal job. She even brings breakfast to the morning board

[13:40] meetings.

[13:44] But all that said, I do genuinely want to thank you all because you are a difference

[13:51] makers and you do it without really being seen and that means a lot to me.

[13:59] I appreciate you and I love you and appreciate what you do with this board so thank you.

[14:06] And Tim, we can't express how much we're going to miss you.

[14:10] This tree board was your baby. I don't remember when this very first started.

[14:15] You know your tree, city, charter thing kind of got it going and then from there,

[14:20] We came up with our guidance documents and things like that and it just all ballooned from there

[14:28] so

[14:29] It's it's been a pleasure to work with you all these years

[14:32] You know not just in the capacity of the tree board, but in your capacity with the city and

[14:38] And can't say enough about what you've meant to the city of Guildsville so we all

[14:43] We'll keep an emeritus chair on the tree board right over here for you

[14:48] So anytime you want to show up, you're welcome, but again, what we do appreciate you, Tim. So, thanks.

[14:55] Thank you.

[14:57] I wanted to let you know we have our e

[15:00] Local scout that's going to be meeting with Josh here in a minute to try to figure out when he's going to be coming in to clean up the Brooks Park side of the walking trail and expose some of the wall that we found the buried the last few years. Our nonprofit is going to be trying to schedule some beautification days specifically around the wall because there's a really cool oak tree on that wall that I would like to

[15:29] make sure people can enjoy and see it and and access it but there's a lot of

[15:37] growth too that we just need to cut back again and and bag it all up so I'll let

[15:43] you know when we have those in the fall dates for good works to come out

[15:48] there and serve and hopefully this Eagle Scout project goes really smoothly.

[15:53] There's a lot of interesting history along Mainstreet Creek with the old

[15:57] and all those kind of things, so it's neat to kind of, you know, bring some of that back.

[16:03] So thanks, Toby.

[16:05] Any other comments?

[16:10] 16 minutes, new record.

[16:13] If there is no other business, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

[16:19] Move to adjourn.

[16:22] Second?

[16:23] Second.

[16:24] We're adjourned.

[16:24] Boop!

Beautification & Tree Advisory Board Meeting

Transcript