Two large sycamore trees in front of the Sargent Building in downtown Dahlonega are scheduled to come down this week after further signs of deterioration triggered renewed safety concerns from city officials.
“We had a very large limb fall, of its own accord, and therefore we have to take public safety very, very seriously. Our plan is to remove those problem trees this week,” Mayor JoAnne Taylor announced at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night.
“We are planning an announcement to go out from the City to everybody that will be affected, especially the downtown business owners,” Taylor added.
One of the sycamores became locally famous when a a black bear cub wandered onto the square and scaled the tree in April of 1996, inadvertently becoming the mascot for the popular “Bear on the Square” festival that began the following year.
Taylor said new trees will eventually be planted in the area.
This possible removal of this tree was discussed at a city council meeting in July of last year: www.thedahloneganugget.com/local-newsletter/downtown-trees-could-be-chopping-block
