Elm Trees In Columbia Still In Limbo

Sonora, CA — Several heritage elm trees in Columbia will remain as they are until the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors and Public Works can come to an agreement.

At today´s meeting the supervisors voted to accept a report written by a third arborist and recommended it be followed. The report recommends one tree be cut down immediately and the rest be pruned and maintained until they need to be removed.

Supervisor Dick Pland says the report is definitive and moved to adopt it. Chairman Paolo Maffei is hoping that at least one tree will be cut down due to safety concerns, and feels that if the Public Works department decides to maintain the trees the funding will be discussed at a future meeting.

County officials believe the trees are a public safety hazard, however opponents to the cutting say the hazard can be mitigated with ongoing maintenance programs.