Staff writer
Marion City Councilman Bill Holdeman wants to ban cottonwood trees.
He suggested at Monday’s council meeting that the trees that produce the pesky seeds should be outlawed.
“Cut them down. Get rid of them,” he said.
The issue came to ahead for Holdeman when he said his air conditioner was covered with the cottonwood seeds. He said some cities don’t allow the trees that have the seeds.
Councilman Stacey Collett said he considered cleaning the air conditioner was part of normal maintenance and didn’t know how the city was going to stop the planting of cottonwood trees.
“The city could adopt an ordinance to stop the planting of trees,” Holdeman said. Collett said if the city made a tree ordinance, he wanted to add that trees shouldn’t be planted within 20 feet of power lines.
The topic will be discussed at a future meeting.
In other business:
- An $8,000 donation was accepted by the city’s Central Park Improvement Committee from the Lorraine B. Hadsell Charitable Trust.
- The council will review changes to the city’s ordinance regarding smoking on city property that also could ban tobacco of any kind.
- Mayfield asked the council to consider advertising for an expired position on the REC board. The position is held by longtime board member Jan Helmer, who hasn’t been asked to serve another term. The commission instructed Mayfield to ask the REC board for direction.
- A recent inspection of the city’s water treatment plant has indicated the need for a valve exercise program. Water plant operator Marty Fredrickson said the city has the equipment but he hasn’t had the time to install it.
- A liquor license renewal was approved for D&J Liquor Store LLC.
The next regular council meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in the city building.