This Weekend: Joliet Crews to Leave Tree Stumps in Their Wake Throughout City

JOLIET — Joliet officials are deploying employees throughout the community this weekend to get rid of trees affected by a recurring invasive pest known for its nationwide foliage destruction.

Due to Emerald Ash Borers, crews from the city's Roadways Division will be in several Joliet neighborhoods on Saturday and Sunday removing trees. Work will take place between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., according to a community alert.

Emerald Ash Borers are havoc-causing beetles that that feast on the inner bark of ash trees. Native to east Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea, they were first discovered in the U.S. about 15 years ago near Detroit, Michigan.

Joliet's workers will be addressing the following local neighborhoods:

• Riverwalk
• Squires Mill
• Fiday Road
• Caton Ridge
• Caton Ridge South
• Caton Ridge West
• Pheasant Ridge
• Sable Ridge

Residents can expect to see any of four, seven-man crews working.

"Please remove all cars off the street and take caution while driving in these neighborhoods," a city alert advised. "This will be tree removals only. The Roadways Division crews will return at a later date to perform stump grinding."

Photo: An emerald ash borer beetle. — U.S. Department of Agriculture, used with permission via Creative Commons license.