The Fenton Board of Aldermen voted to increase the 2025 capital plan allocation for invasive‑species control in city parks from $50,000 to $100,000 and approved two consultant contracts for tree cutting and invasive‑species work.

The Parks and Recreation Committee recommended the budget increase and requested public input on renaming what is now called Budweil Annex Park. The board approved the budget increase after a motion by Alderman Hill, seconded by Alderman Wissbrough.

Separately, the board authorized two consultant service contracts: one with Homestead Forestry Services LLC (bill 25-28, enacted as Ordinance 45-49) for forestry cutter services and one with Missouri Native Stewardship Services LLC (bill 25-29, enacted as Ordinance 45-50) for forestry cutting and invasive‑species control. Both ordinances were approved on second reading with recorded roll-call votes.

Why it matters: The funding increase and consultant contracts direct city resources to remove dead and invasive vegetation and to manage public-park canopy health. Officials said the work will focus first on trees identified as critical by an arborist survey before addressing larger invasive-species programs.

Details and clarifications: Public Works Director Dan Howard told the board the city commissioned a citywide right‑of‑way tree survey that cost about $24,000; the survey identified trees for immediate removal. Howard said critical trees—dead, dying or diseased—will be removed first regardless of species, and the city will follow with targeted invasive‑species efforts.

At the end of the meeting aldermen and staff discussed outreach to residents about invasive plants, including discouraging the planting of Bradford pear trees on private property. City Administrator Nikki Finkbeiner and Public Works staff agreed to add public information about invasive landscaping to upcoming communications.

The Parks committee also approved gathering additional public input on a proposed new name for Budweil Annex Park; that item was scheduled for further review. The board did not state specific timelines for the forestry contracts' on‑the‑ground work during the meeting.