Board approves tree plan

The absence of trees around the Perryville downtown square has left some city residents feeling out of sorts.
The city began removing the previous tree tenants — Bradford pears, which have been classified as an invasive species by the Missouri Department of Conservation — last month in preparation for planting new greenery, but the discussion has been going on for much longer. During Tuesday’s meeting of the city’s Board of Aldermen, city administrator Brent Buerck delivered an update on the replacement plan, the second formulated since discussions began.
“The original tree plan was completely scrapped and we have worked with Rob Roy on new tree selections,” Buerck said ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. “It is recommended larger shade trees be planted on the corners of the square — the county’s side — and in front of the Downtown Plaza. This will provide attractive shade for downtown activities and events but not block business signs.”
In the end, the board voted 5-1 to implement the plan Beurck presented, with the only dissenting vote coming from Ward 3 Alderman Prince Hudson.
“I just don’t think they belong there,” Hudson said.
Buerck outlined the city’s plan to members of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, property owners, city aldermen and county commissioners during a meeting Tuesday afternoon, including a list of possible choices.
According to Buerck, the plan gives consideration to each species’ “nuisance” factor — droppings, animal attraction and so forth — along with their hardiness for a downtown environment.
The proposed choices included several native trees, along with some ornamentals.
“We gave everybody this ‘bingo card’ with the trees on it and asked them to tell us what they wanted in front of their building, where they live, where they work,” Buerck said.
Of the proposed trees, one is expected to grow no more than 6-7 feet feet tall, while several others are “columnar” trees, which will grow tall but stay skinny. Buerck said those trees would be ideal for businesses concerned about sign visibility.
“The idea was that in front of the Downtown Plaza and at the corners of the square, we would put larger trees that will eventually grow tall and shade out,” Buerck said. “In time we would have some good shade there. The commission felt strongly that the trees in front of the gazebo [at the corner of St. Joseph and Main Streets] be columnar so that they wouldn’t block what was happening behind there and several people selected that Ruby Falls red bud, a tree that doesn’t grow tall, 6-7 feet and grows out about 4 feet, and would let was behind them be visible.”
One of the concerns regarding the plan, Buerck said, was a plan for annual tree maintenance, to keep the trees shaped properly and raise the canopy to ensure good visibility.

Hudson expressed concerns over the plan, most related to possible growth of the trees.
“Some of those trees grow 40 feet tall,” he said.
Buerck assured the board that the Missouri Department of Conservation arborist who consulted on the plan said that wouldn’t happen.
“They can only grow as big as their environment will allow,” Buerck said. “Those [planter boxes] are 5 feet by 5 feet. He said they won’t reach full maturity.”
Hudson still had doubts, asking, “Can he guarantee that in writing?”
“I’m not convinced that if you get a tree that says it can grow 40-50 feet tall and 25-30 feet wide that it will never happen,” said Hudson, who also expressed concerns over maintenance, dropped leaves and birds.
“To me, you shouldn’t have a downtown where people have got to walk around looking for bird droppings on the sidewalk,” said Hudson, who did express a preference for the red bud species. “That’s the only thing I would want on the square.”
Mayor Ken Baer argued that the board should give weight to the choices made by the business owners on the square.
“There’s been a lot of work put into this and the retvitalization committee is supportive of this and wants this to happen. To tell them, ‘No, we’re not going to do what you want,’ would be kind of ...”
“Who runs this city?” Hudson interrupted. “Do we run it, or does the Downtown Revitalization Committee run it?”
The board also discussed another project related to the trees involving downtown shrubs.
As part of our tree project with MDC, the city also plans to remove the Nandinas and liriopes that were planted several years ago, and begin exploring options for replacements.
In addition, plans to increase plant diversity in the city’s park system by working with MDC to add lower maintenance vegetation to what are otherwise wet areas. According to Buerck, these plantings are different than what was done previously in City Park. These areas will be planted less densely and allow for the plants to “grow together” over time.