Mike Brunk Retires from the City

City Arborist Mike Brunk Retires

Mike Brunk has retired from the City of Urbana after a 33-year career that branched out and helped the growth of appreciation and stewardship of trees in Urbana and beyond. Brunk has rooted the passion for trees in the community, and it is obvious in all that he did in his vast career in Urbana. Watch this video to see Brunk in action in this award-winning broadcast about lawn aeration.

There are many interesting details over the course of Brunk's career here at the City. Listed are just a few:

• Created a nationally recognized "how to" tree publication that shows homewoners tree selection, greenscape planning, and sustained care titled Under the Canopy. This publication also raises public awareness of how beneficial trees are the ecosphere, and it generates revenue for the City of Urbana. To date, over a halfmillion copies have been distributed
• Initiated and developed the the Urbana Legacy Tree Program
• Developed the Urbana Greenscapes program to solicit outside funding for green-sapce development and care
• Transformed a tax-subsidized recycling operation into the first self-sustaining municipally-operated yard waste recycling program in the Midwest that utilizes land from a former landfill. This operation now serves the East Central Illinois region

Brunk's career started as an Arbor Technician in October of 1985. From there, he was promoted to Landscape Supervisor in May of 1989, and finally served the duration of his Urbana career as a City Arborist starting July 1992. Although retired from Urbana, Brunk has accepted the position of Urban and Community Forestry Administrator for the State of Illinois.

The entire arbor staff was on hand for Brunk's retirement. They bid him well in his future endeavors as he embarks on his career with the Illinois Department of Natural Resouces.