(6/30) Carroll Valley Borough was recently named a 2019 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Carroll Valley achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: the creation of a tree board, a tree care ordinance, maintaining an annual community forestry budget of at least two dollars per capita and creating an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

The Tree City USA program dates back to 1976, and has been greening up cities and towns across America ever since. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees.

In fact, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, more than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA.

Back in February of last year, Carroll Valley resident and member of the borough’s Parks and Recreation Committee, Lori Kolenda, asked Council to consider officially recognizing the subcommittee of Parks, Recreation and Environmental Advisory Committee known as the Tree Board as a formal committee of Council. Additionally, she presented the Council with the many benefits of becoming a Tree City USA certified community and asked the Council to consider adopting an updated tree ordinance.

As discussed by Kolenda, having the Tree City USA status could provide the borough more opportunities to receive funding for future projects and it is also a great way to get more residents actively involved in the community. The Tree Board, as proposed, would consist of five members appointed by the Council. The tree ordinance amendments outline appropriate distances and clearances for planting trees, public tree care, and tree species allowable.

By the end of the meeting, Carroll Valley’s Borough Council took one step further towards becoming Tree City USA certified by unanimously adopting this ordinance. The ordinance allows the Carroll Valley Tree Board to help regulate the planting, maintenance and removal of trees, shrubs and other plants upon Borough Property.

Several projects that the borough’s Tree Board has thus far completed include: tree plantings throughout parks in Carroll Valley including the Ranch Trail Park as well as the planting of a riparian buffer at Carroll Commons. The Tree Board also hosted a "See Your Park" day last October as well as a "Get to know your Park" event held in conjunction with this year’s Arbor Day and Fishing Derby.

In other Carroll Valley news, Carroll Valley’s Borough Council voted to accept an ordinance outlining the new Inter-municipal Cooperative Police Service agreement with Liberty Township. The agreement allows police officers of either municipality to enter and act as police officers in the other municipality without prior request if there is an emergency or if a violation is seen. The new agreement also states that police force back up may be given between municipalities. However, the differing aspect between this agreement and the agreement in effect in prior years is that Carroll Valley will no longer answer any calls in Liberty Township. Carroll Valley officers will not be dispatched to Liberty Township if Liberty Township officers are not on duty.

Both Carroll Valley Borough Council and Liberty Township Supervisors accepted this new agreement during their prospective meetings held in June.