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Last updated on Friday, September 4, 2015
(BLOOMINGTON) - One of Bloomington’s most historical trees will be cut down.
According to Lee Huss, Urban Forester for the City of Bloomington, the white oak in the northwest corner of Seminary Park near the post office has been around since before the horse and buggy.
The tree appears to be healthy, but in reality it is suffering from fungal conk which is decaying the tree's root system on the west side of the tree's base. Trees with fungal conk suffer heart decay and are very prone to breakage as a result of wind or ice.
Bartlett Tree Experts did a risk analysis on the tree and gave it a high hazard rating so the decision was made to remove the tree to prevent anyone from being injured should the tree fall.
Huss says if officials could save the tree and prevent it from being a danger they would.
The plan is for the tree to be removed by the end of February but the hope is for the wood to be put to good use. While the root system is shot, there's valuable white oak timber above.
A bid document is being prepared for the end of the month to see if anyone in the forest product industry is interested in purchasing the tree. Whomever purchases the tree will be responsible for taking it down.
Officials say they are not selling the tree for profit, but want to make sure the tree is utilized instead of ending up in a chipper.
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