Published: June 26, 2009 10:37 pm      

City hires urban forestry coordinator

EDMOND — The City of Edmond has a new green thumb, with Ryan Ochsner hired as urban forestry coordinator.

The positions of urban forester and assistant urban forester had been vacant since Carrie Tomlinson and Kim Miller left in September. Assistant City Manager Steve Commons said the job description and name was changed to urban forestry coordinator because the city is placing new emphasis on landscaping development.

“The most important thing with our program in urban forestry is trying to find somebody who can work with the public and existing staff,” Commons said. “One of the strengths our previous urban forester brought to the job was developing interest in the community for greening up the community with trees and landscaping.”

Ochsner will communicate healthy environmental needs for the community, Commons said. His ability to work with people will be an asset, he added. He earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Oklahoma State University in 2004.

Ochsner said he joined the City of Edmond’s workforce because he wanted to work for a top-notch organization.

“Here lately, a bunch of my work has been in land reclamation in re-vegetation type work,” said Ochsner, who had a landscaping business in Perry. “I’ve done some landscape design and installation, also.”

His work in land reclamation will be advantageous as the city develops and he pays close attention to the impact of development on the environment, Ochsner said. Ochsner was working at Tall Grass Environmental Solutions in Luther prior to accepting his new job as urban forestry coordinator.

The Chattanooga native brought his wife Michelle and 2-year-old to live in Edmond 11 months ago. They also have a son who was born last week. And Michelle is working toward a bachelor’s degree in special education at the University of Central Oklahoma.

“The (forestry) position itself means I will be able to serve the people of the community,” Ochsner said. “And I’ll be able to serve for the good of the environment.”

He’s learned during his first few days on the job that several city departments depend on the urban forestry coordinator. Not all cities are interested in an urban forestry professional’s opinion when making decisions that impact the environment, Ochsner continued.

“That’s where Edmond really stands out to me, in their willingness to seek that input,” he said. “And I think it shows up in the community.”

Commons said he has spoken with Ochsner about the city applying for Oklahoma Department of Transportation tree grants that are available for median work.

Edmond has received previous ODOT grants for tree plantings at Second Street and Interstate 35, Ochsner said. “And so new years come up and we’re applying for that again. I think we’ll get it and we have a couple of areas picked out that we’re looking at planting some trees.”

Ochsner said he looks forward to receiving more input from Edmond residents about the city’s forestry needs.

TO LEARN MORE about career openings with the City of Edmond, visit edmondok.com/hr/jobs or call the City of Edmond at 348-8830.