Residents voice concerns over old tree facing removal on Jackson County Courthouse square

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (WHNT) The Jackson County Commission is hearing from experts on whether to cut down a nearly century-old tree in the courthouse yard, but residents are voicing their concerns in opposition of the move.

Caution tape blocks off a good portion of the Jackson County Courthouse lawn, causing visitors to walk out of their way to go around it. County leaders say that caution tape is necessary though, because limbs from a tree estimated to be between 80 to 100 years old have already started falling, which they say is a safety hazard.

Since then, the County Commission has been speaking with multiple experts to determine if that tree, a Norway Maple, needs to come down. Commission Chair Matthew Hodges says it looks as if that will have to be the case. Weve actually had the same results come back from several folks, Hodges says.

Hodges says many residents voiced their concerns about the decision to cut the tree down, citing the trees age and rarity. Experts say most trees of that variety in this particular environment dont live to be that old. Hodges says the Commission has taken those concerns into consideration.

Thats what kind of spurred us to look a little further into asking some more folks about it, Hodges says.

However because its been in Scottsboro for nearly a century, the Commission wants to do what it can to keep part of it in the community. Whether we can do seedlings or take some things from this tree, for some local art culture or things like that, Hodges says. They also plan to plant another tree of the same kind, or seedling from the old tree in the same area.

The Commission says the tree will most likely be cut down in the next couple of weeks.

Link:
Residents voice concerns over old tree facing removal on Jackson County Courthouse square