Casualties of age, not development
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Two mammoth trees adjacent to Lake Lisgar’s Gibson House will be casualties to advancing age, rather than encroaching development.
“We’re picking up sticks every day and some of the sticks are getting pretty big,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Rick Cox following Monday evening’s open council meeting.
The fact the trees were up for removal came forward during a Lake Lisgar Revitalization Committee (LLRC) report courtesy of members Joan Weston and Frank Kempf, updating council on progress of a shared $112,500 (50% federal government grant, $46,250 from the town and $10,000 from the LLRC) improvement project.
Some work has been completed, said Kempf, including replacing windows and doors and Gibson House and completion of upgrades to the parking lot.
The tendering process for various other aspects of the project is ongoing, said Kempf.
“It has been a learning experience,” he admitted with a smile.
Councillor Brian Stephenson received clarification on a couple of issues, including the item ‘ramp going in’ referred to wheelchair accessibility for Gibson House, rather than a boat launch facility. His queries also brought out the point removal of the trees in question and possible subsequent creation of a walkway and deck in their current location would be driven by deteriorating condition, rather than a desire for the latter additions.
One tree in particular is not in good health.
“Chunks of it of various sizes have fallen at various times,” Cox said, adding the expectation more and larger chunks will follow. There is no precise timeframe, but safety-driven removal of trees of that size will be a significant project Cox added later, requiring large machinery.
“We’re talking about cranes to get those big trees down, so it will be very visible when it happens.”
Tree removal can provoke a reaction, but given the current state of the one tree in particular, proactive effort is considered judicious. Given the comparable ages of the trees, the expectation of similar safety issues and the scope of removing one, attending to both seems a reasonable option, said Cox.
“It made sense to do all of it at the same time.”
One tree’s stump and root system does provide stability for the shoreline Cox added, and the project will proceed mindful of that fact.
The walkway/deck option is not part of current improvements, Kempf clarified later in the discussion.
“That is a plan at this time, not a project.”
But the committee did have a request for council Monday, namely the go-ahead to mount a bronze donor plaque recognizing donor contributions of $500 and up.
“We would like permission to affix it to the west wall of Gibson House,” Weston explained.
Mayor John Lessif responded that CAO David Calder was taking notes, indicating forward progress on that issue. The Mayor also reiterated his praise of the LLRC for leadership and work well done on ‘one of Tillsonburg’s many jewels’, adding it has been ‘great’ this summer to see the revitalized lake being used by ‘so many people for so many uses.
“You have really helped to bring it alive.”