Time may be running out for a cottonwood tree that sits at the edge of a Pulaski County road. Mary Seidel told the county commissioners that the “gigantic” tree has been in front of the house she shares with her husband for decades without causing any trouble to passing vehicles.
“Tons and tons and tons of people, thousands of people have went by there when that bridge was out. Nobody’s door touched the other car. Nobody had to stop and let someone else go through. I’ve seen one thing – and I’ve lived out there 12 years – one thing that stopped to let a combine go.”
But now, she says the County Highway Department wants to cut it down or have the property owners accept liability for any accidents that may happen. Even though the tree has been there for years, County Attorney Kevin Tankersley noted that it is in the county’s right of way, and the county clearly has the right to remove it.
But Seidel felt the tree should have some rights, too.
“It has sentimental value. I believe it has historic value, if I want to go that route and get a hold of the state and talk to them, because it’s a hundred years old.”
But in spite of her pleading, the commissioners declined to overrule Highway Superintendent Gary Kruger. Commissioner Maurice Loehmer noted that just because there haven’t been any issues in the past doesn’t mean something can’t happen.
Later in the meeting, Loehmer reiterated the commissioners’ support for the superintendent’s decisions.
“I would just like to give notice to all property owners in the county that the commissioners expect the highway superintendent to remove, trim, take care of any trees, shrubs that are overgrown, or planted in the county right of way along the roads. This includes crops. Overgrown vegetation could cause liability, and that becomes our concern.”
He encouraged property owners to take care of their own vegetation because if the Highway Department has to do it, it may not be done the way they want it.
