WESTON—On April 14, the Weston Tree Commission met to finalize details for the village's upcoming Arbor Day observance and to continue shaping the new village tree ordinance. The meeting included Chairman Logan Wick, member Dean Babcock, Councilmember Brittney Klockowski, and Mayor Rick Easterwood, who attended the first half of the session.


Historic Buckeyes for Arbor Day


The commission finalized plans to fulfill the village's annual Arbor Day observance, a mandatory requirement to maintain Tree City USA status and remain eligible for future grants. The observance is scheduled for Friday, April 24th at 6:00 PM.

This year's planting features a unique piece of history: two buckeye trees grown from seeds collected at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.. The trees were donated to the village roughly four years ago by Representative Bob Latta and have been nurtured by commission member Dean Babcock since then.

The commission agreed to plant the trees in the southeast corner of Alumni Park, near the walking path and a location where a dead tree was recently removed. Village Administrator Harold Boggs will prepare the site and place protective cones over the young saplings to prevent accidental damage from mowers and wildlife. Mayor Easterwood confirmed the location would not interfere with the village's designated helicopter landing zone.


Defining the "Grey Area" in the Tree Ordinance


A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the draft tree ordinance, with the commission zeroing in on the legal and financial liabilities surrounding "borderline" trees. Chairman Wick expressed concern over how the village defines a "public" versus "private" tree, specifically regarding trees planted in the village right-of-way (the tree lawn between the sidewalk and road) and private trees with branches overhanging public streets.

Wick noted that property lines in Weston vary—with some residents owning up to the edge of the right-of-way and others owning to the middle of the street—creating a confusing "grey area" for maintenance. The commission debated who is responsible for trimming overhanging branches that block signs or sidewalks, and whether the village should issue permits or bills to homeowners in these instances. Ultimately, the commission decided to wait for feedback from the village solicitor and to consult with ODNR Regional Urban Forester Stephanie Miller before finalizing the language.


Other Items Addressed


Infrastructure & Storm Maintenance

  • Storm Damage Policy: The commission clarified that when trees fall across public roads during storms, the village’s public works team is responsible for clearing the right-of-way. The village does not typically bill homeowners for this emergency cleanup unless the tree was previously declared a documented nuisance.
  • Water Line Repairs: It was reported that a village water line previously clogged by tree roots was successfully repaired via directional boring, avoiding the need to cut down nearby trees.
  • Valuable Lumber: The commission briefly discussed a large black walnut tree on Main Street, noting that if healthy, such trees should not be removed, but if they ever need to come down, specialized companies will often pay the village or homeowner for the valuable lumber.


Upcoming Events & Operations

  • Tree City USA Awards: The commission was invited to attend the Tree City USA and Tree Campus Awards program on May 13th at the Maumee Elks Lodge.
  • Next Meeting Strategy: The commission plans to take photographs of specific, borderline trees around the village to present as "real-world scenarios" to ODNR forester Stephanie Miller at their next meeting, helping to further clarify the new tree ordinance rules.