Kuhn to request grant for tree inventory

McMinnville city forester Nick Kuhn has asked the Building and Grounds Committee for permission to apply for another grant.

The federal grant funds, which come from the U.S. Forestry Service and are administered through Tennessee Department of Agriculture?s Division of Forestry, in the past have been used for education, like the recent citizen?s forestry class.

Since regulations are changing, this grant will be used to keep McMinnville in line with regulations for receiving additional grants.

?To receive grants,? said Kuhn, ?the city must have a forester on staff, which we have, and a tree board, which we also have. These are the two main requirements.?

There are two minor requirements.

?The city must have a street and park tree inventory,? said Kuhn, ?and a management plan.?

The inventory will be a detailed list of what species of trees are within the area and where the trees are located. A management plan helps with future plans, which is very important.

?It gives us a plan to follow which is better than just winging it every day,? said Kuhn.

If the grant is received, the funds would go towards establishing the two minor requirements for the city.

?A company would come into McMinnville,? said Kuhn, ?and study half the town in two to three weeks. I have talked to some people and we can get tree inventory, management plan and a STRATUM analysis.?

Once the inventory of trees is complete, the STRATUM software will allow Kuhn to evaluate current benefits, costs and management needs. The system would be an added benefit to the community as it will evaluate energy conservation, air quality improvement, CO2 reduction, storm water control, and property value increase.

There is one small problem ? the grant has a maximum value of $20,000, but the test will be $27,000.

?If we do everything the company wants to do,? said Kuhn, ?that includes all the streets and all the parks, the most the city would be asked for is $7,000.?

The Building and Grounds Committee unanimously passed Kuhn?s request.