The locust trees have lined the Pearl & Jefferson block for over 50 years
By Andrew Harris
Village residents are noticing a major change to the Main Street landscape and many are not pleased with the sudden decision to remove the largest and oldest trees lining the business district.
Village Department of Public Works Director Dean Arnold explained that the decision to remove the trees was made by him after requests from building owners on the block. For reference, this is the “Beef Haus/Better Days/LC Whitford” stretch of Main Street. Here is the rough, before and after:
“We had the building owners on that block ask to take those trees down. They are planning on concrete work for this year and needed them taken down,” explained Arnold.
Art Kleinfeldt, who owns two of the buildings on that block, lamented that without the shade provided by those trees, that side of the street was going to suffer under the summer sun.
Kleinfeldt also wondered which building owners had been asked for the trees to be removed.
“No one asked me, in fact they told me the day before that the road was being closed down and the trees were coming down. Nobody asked me what I thought about it.”
Kleinfeldt has purchased the former “Petland” and “Williams Travel” buildings and has worked hard at improving the buildings. Art is a big supporter of improving Main Street Wellsville.
When asked about the timing of the tree removal, Public Works boss Dean Arnold said that the main consideration was to have the trees removed before concrete season began.
Arnold, who sits on the Wellsville Tree Board, said that the group who advises and helps with tree planting and removal in the village, would be involved with future plantings plans.
Lifelong Wellsville resident and former publisher of the Wellsville Daily Reporter Oak Duke also sits on the Tree Board and has for about fifteen years. His reaction to the trees being cut down was of shock and frustration.
“A couple years ago, local business owner Mike Raptis came to the tree board and asked us to approve removing those trees. We disagreed with that proposal and voted to keep the trees, that was the last time the Tree Board was consulted about these honey locusts. The board felt that besides the important shade provided, the trees contributed greatly to the ambiance and aesthetic of Main Street.”
Duke voiced some of his frustration, “Making these decisions without the Tree Board is hard to understand, I mean why have a tree board at all ?”
Duke hoped that in the future, major decisions about taxpayer owned trees will be brought to the Tree Board for careful consideration and input on a decision made by the Mayor and village government.
