Government Doc: Mankato City Code

Yesterday and I was clambering to figure out how to detail my research for the rest of the class, I looked up the Mankato's city code. I wanted to answer the "So what?" question that many researchers must deal with in order for their findings to have any implication to society outside of their discourse communities. 


Also, I've seen elm trees in Mankato yards flagged with Dutch Elm Disease (that is, several leaves turned yellow, which indicates that the disease will soon kill the tree—arborists call this "flagging"). I even contacted a MSU maintain manager when I saw an elm flagging. This great tree was flagging, and its canopy stretched to shade the parking lot. 


The MSU staff decided to wait instead of taking up my offer to cut the branch and trace the disease. The tree lingered for much longer than I thought it would. For a while I even doubted it was emerald ash borer (EAB). But the next year, the disease took the tree and they cut the whole thing down.


So I figured Mankato didn't have strict laws like Minneapolis and St. Paul does regarding diseased or dangerous trees. After all, Dutch Elm is rampant in this area (especially on the windbrakes and in the ravines). I was wrong! Here's a segment of Mankato City Code 9.73:

Section 9.737, Mankato City Code. Taken from <http://www.mankato-mn.gov/CityCode/Section-9.73.aspx>

When a homeowner's tree first gets Dutch Elm Disease, they have until April 1st of the next year to remove it. But that assumes the tree won't continue to decline, which happens most often (unless there are dry conditions). If the tree loses more than 30 percent of its canopy, the tree needs to be removed in 20 days. 


If the homeowner does not meet this requirement, the forester can "abate the nuisance" (cut it down) and charge the homeowner for it. Depending on the size of the tree, it could cost $1,000 or more (for the biggest trees). Rarely does a Mankato tree removal go for more than this price, even with cranes involved.


So, what are the implications for the ash trees of Mankato? I'm sure when the Emerald Ash Borer hit the city the City Council will update the code here. All the trees they talk about are elm and oaks. So it makes sense they would add ash trees to the rules. 


The other big question is whether or not this code is enforced. Does the forester mark trees on people's property? Maybe he does, but considering the size of the town and the amount of trees with Dutch Elm Disease, I don't imagine he gets involved unless a homeowner is negligent and a neighbor is concerned.


Why didn't I look at this sooner? It would have given my research more meaning, and it might even suggest that the city code be adapted in the future to provide for a possible infestation of EAB. Ah well, more to add into the prospectus during winter break.

Graphic: Mankato's Ashes

This graphic is from the City of Mankato. It marks a boulevard ash tree with a green line. All the green lines are placed on a map of Mankato's streets and buildings. In total there are about 2,400 green lines on this map. Note that this does not account for all the trees in the city—just the boulevard ash trees, which the city has planted. The amount of ashes planted on private property and public parks is certain to be 5 or 10 times the amount on the boulevards.  

Of course, the map is hard to read. The lines create a green tint to the map from a distance. Close up, it is hard to tell where the trees are, especially when the street runs parallel to the direction of the line markers. 


The density of monoculture planting is evident in a closeup of Balcerzak, seen below.

That's a lot of ash trees! The lines make this seem more like a computer score card than an information graphic though. Another representation, made from the same source of information, from the Mankato Free Press looks much better because it maintains a stronger figure-ground contrast and it "tames the grid" as Edward R. Tufte would say.