'Hazard to the walking public': Powassan trees being removed from the downtown

Powassan Mayor Peter McIsaac has set the record straight on why the municipality removed trees growing on the downtown sidewalks on Main Street.

A resident asked that question on the What’s Happening Powassan Facebook page on Sept. 14, prompting about two dozen responses.

Some people answered back with the correct information, which was that the roots from the mature trees were creating problems for the brick sidewalks by causing them to heave.

The Dutch and ash trees, with diameters of 16 to 18 inches, were planted about 40 years ago on the Main Street sidewalks.

McIsaac said the trees were removed primarily for two reasons.

“They are under threat to Dutch elm disease and now they have become a hazard to the walking public,” said McIsaac. 

“They’re pushing up the (brick) stones which have deformed the sidewalks.”

McIsaac says the underground roots are the cause for the sidewalks heaving because they have become larger over the decades.

In those areas where the heaving occurred, it’s reduced the amount of sidewalk space pedestrians can use as they approach the trees.

McIsaac said this became a safety concern for pedestrians and people with mobility issues, and also an obstacle for winter sidewalk snow removal machines.

Town council recognized the sidewalk issue two years ago, and McIsaac said that’s when it started to remove the trees.

He says the council didn’t want to remove them all at once, since that would negatively impact the beauty of the downtown.

Rather, the municipality has removed the trees a little at a time.

This year, it took out four trees.

McIsaac says smaller, younger trees are being planted to replace the ripped-out trees and the new trees are more disease-resistant.

Additionally, as the younger trees were planted, the sidewalk has also been repaired in those sections.

Rather than speculate on social media for why something is occurring in the municipality, McIsaac encourages residents to contact the municipality directly.

He says people can also reach any member of council by phone or email.

“Also, most councillors have their own social media page where residents can message them and ask questions,” McIsaac said.

“I would think if someone asked why the trees were being removed on Main Street, they would get a timely response.”

The municipality has its own Facebook page and McIsaac encourages municipal employees not to try to respond to matters on “social media that are not directed at the municipal webpage.”

“There are so many social media posts every day that I don’t think it’s fair for the taxpayers to be paying someone to just sit there and monitor Facebook, for example,” he said.

McIsaac adds that employing a person for just that reason is something “that’s not in the cards.”

McIsaac says the municipality’s Facebook page is also where the town council meetings are posted, and those meetings contain a lot of information.

In fact, at the Sept. 3 council meeting, even before the What’s Happening Powassan Facebook tree question was posted, council discussed why they were being removed.

Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Almaguin News. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.