Sugar Maple Tree To Be Removed From Putnam Courthouse Lawn

A dying tree will soon be removed from the Putnam County Courthouse lawn.

County Mayor Randy Porter said the Sugar Maple tree poses a danger to motorist and threatens the veterans memorial wall.

Putnam County will be removing a dying tree that sits behind the veterans memorial wall at the courthouse square. County Mayor Randy Porter reported Monday that the tree has died and poses a danger to motorist.

“If it falls, it could fall across the veterans memorial wall and we don’t want that destroyed,” Porter said. “If it does fall, it’s big enough that it would go into street, so we’re going to be taking that out as soon as possible.”

Porter said the tree bloomed out last year, but things began to change this year. He said the decision to remove the tree came after the city’s arborist conducted an examination.

“There’s no way to determine exactly what happened to the tree. It could have been disease or it could have been lightning,” Porter said. “The trees may have been topped 30 or something years ago and that could have caused it to have a decreased life expectancy, but there’s no way to know. The only thing we do know is that the tree is going to have to be taken out.”

Porter said the county plans to replace the tree once crews complete the removal process. He informed the county commission of the decision to remove the tree during Monday night’s meeting.