SIDNEY — The Sidney Tree Board re-elected Ann Asher as the board chairwoman and Michael Jannides as vice chairman during it’s first meeting of the year, Thursday, March 22.

Asher was first appointed to the board in 2007 and Jannides in 2011.

Rick Steenrod, the board’s newest member, was welcomed and attended his first meeting, Thursday.

The board discussed details the city’s 2018 tree sale, which will be at the end of the summer. Last year was the first year Sidney had the sale, in which 300 trees were sold.

The sale will be officially announced at a future tree board meeting after specifics are established. However, in keeping with last year’s sale, it is expected that tree orders will be due by mid-September and trees will be distributed at the end of October at the city’s service center along Vandemark Road.

The planned attendance by Sidney Community Development Director Barbara Dulworth at April’s meeting was noted. Dulworth will discuss the board’s desire to require that trees be part of new housing developments’ plans.

Joyce Reier, public works administrative assistant, reported that city administration denied a request to remove a tree on Westlake Drive. Property owner Deborah Grogean and adjacent property owners Floyd and Gaylen Kirkland asked for a tree located behind their mailboxes near the roadway to be removed because of the large volume of bird droppings that regularly cover their mailboxes, street and sidewalk. The request letter said the bird droppings present a “health danger” to Floyd, who suffers from a “severe lung disease.”

It was noted that with the addition of new trees in the area, the birds will disperse and that there are ways to deter birds from congregating in a tree. A letter notifying the property owners of the city’s decision will be sent out next week.

Hazardous trees were discussed during the meeting, as well as the cyclical pruning map and the Arbor Day bulletin. Only one location on the hazardous trees list remains unresolved, Sidney Street Manager Brian Green said. The property needs to be assessed, he said, as there are several trees at the location, and staff is uncertain which one needs to come down.

It was noted the annual Urban Forestry Council update for Sidney City Council will be April 2. Also the Tree City USA awards program is April 20 in Miamisburg, and the annual Arbor Day celebration will be April 28 at Sidney Christian Academy Schools.