Report: Tree damage not caused by insects or fungus

Posted at 8:40 p.m. on July 26, 2017

The Brillion News

HILBERT – The investigation done by a certified arborist – a tree expert – hired by the Village of Hilbert shows that damage to evergreen tress adjacent to the plant owned by DS Enterprises was not due to insects or fungal infections.

The report was made public at a special village board meeting on Wednesday, July 26.

“This leaves an abiotic factor likely causing the damage,” arborist Nathan Kruse, of Arbor Care of the Fox Valley LLC reported. Kruse suggested further identification to determine if aerial emissions from DS Enterprises could have been the source of the damage to the spruce and pine trees.

The complaint was made by neighboring residents Randy Boesch and Ken Stenklyft. The plant is owned by village board member Dan Starfeld, who recused himself while the other board members dealt with the issue.

Kruse suggested tests on affected tree branches to see if the damage was caused by chemicals. The village board voted to send all of the documents in the case, including the Kruse report, to the state Department of Natural Resources and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The two agencies handle air quality issues and the DNR issues permits that allow DS Enterprises to operate thermal paint-removal furnaces.

A complete story on this issue will appear in the August 3 print edition of The Brillion News.