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117 - year -old tree may get a fresh air in
Sebastian
By Ed Bierschenk
Monday. January 28. 2008
SEBASTIAN -- City workers are expected to take measures next week to help breathe
new life into the historic Hardee oak tree.
"That is what we are shooting for," said City Manager Al Minner on Friday.
The tree, planted in 1891, is northwest of the Main Street and Indian River Drive
intersection.
The tree's namesake, Capt. Robert Hardee, served on the Sebastian City Council for
11 years, starting in 1926, two years after the town was incorporated.
The tree has been attracting renewed attention recently as plans are under way to
realign the intersection in connection with a controversial project to build a new parking
lot for boat trailers. A new bathroom and additional car parking also would be added as
part of the plan.
The condition of the oak tree had some officials and at least one arborist questioning
whether the tree could be saved. For the past several months, there was discussion
about replacing it with a fountain and retaining a piece of the tree's history by using
acoms from the tree to grow saplings.
However, Minner said at least one arborist with Jimmy's Tree Service, which does work
for the city, has indicated the tree can be saved.
Part of the process will be removing concrete and pavement near the tree to try to
allow more air and water to reach its roots. Workers will be "trying to loosen the collar,
so to speak," he said.
Although most of the people speaking at a recent meeting on the road project spoke in
favor of saving the tree, City Councilman Eugene Wolff questioned whether a large
amount of taxpayer money should be spent preserving it. He pointed out the arborist
saying the tree could be saved works for a company that could benefit financially from
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117 -year -old tree may get a fresh air in Sebastian: TCPalm.com Page 2 of 2
the preservation efforts.
Wolff noted numerous other trees were taken down as part of other projects and the
Hardee family name is honored in other ways throughout the city, including the local
Hardee Park, and a plaque could be placed where the tree is located.
Mayor Andrea Coy said though she agreed with Wolffs position earlier, she had
received numerous calls petitioning for the tree to be saved.
"That tree is important to a lot of people in the community," she said.
® ® 2008 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
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