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• South Bend Redevelopment Authority <br />Regular Meeting -June 7, 1994 <br />3. NEW BUSINESS (Cont.) <br />g. Authority app~recluested for proposal from Arborwise Ltd. for tree and <br />site inspection for brae Oak tree at Blackthorn Golf Course. <br />Mrs. Kolata explained that there is a very large, very old and very special Oak <br />tree on the Blackthorn Golf Course. This proposal is to hire a tree consultant <br />to come up with afive-year plan for how to maintain the tree. Mr. Riggs <br />stated that this Oak is supposedly twice the size of the famed "Council Oak" <br />that was hit by lightning. This tree was hidden in dense growth, and was <br />found by the golf course architect when he was walking around the site. He <br />explained that there was concern that now that the tree was in the center of the <br />fairway and out in the open, that lightning might strike it. Mrs. Kolata stated <br />that she thought that a lightning rod had been installed early on. Mr. Riggs <br />answered that the lightning rod had never been installed. He said that it had <br />been talked about, but nothing was ever done. Now that the construction is <br />over, we need to make sure the tree is in good health. <br />• Ms. Pitts-Manier asked what items #3 and #4 are on the proposal. She asked <br />why they would be inspecting other trees, and what does it mean by "phone <br />support for course superintendent. Mr. Riggs answered that is in case the <br />superintendent has questions about how to treat the tree and what types of <br />chemicals not to use on it or near it, etc. Mr. Riggs made a note on the <br />proposal that those items are not to exceed a maximum of $250.00 for item <br />number three and a maximum of $150.00 for item number four. <br />Mr. Gammage wondered why there was a need to spend this much money on <br />a tree that has already existed for approximately 200 years. Mrs. Kolata <br />explained that they had cleared out around it. Mr. Riggs added that the tree <br />had no value before it was discovered, and now that it has been discovered and <br />is in the middle of a golf course, it is valuable. Because there will be an <br />active use around this tree, we need to make sure that we know how to keep it <br />healthy. There will be high school kids spreading fertilizer around it, people <br />mowing around it, carts going by it, etc. <br />Mr. Gammage stated that he felt the lightning rod should be installed before <br />any more money is invested in the tree. Mrs. Pitts Manier suggested that we <br />need to confirm that the lightning rod is part of the proposal from Arborwise. <br />Mr. Riggs stated that the way he understood it when he talked with Mr. Ling <br />from Arborwise, Ltd. , was that part of his report on the condition and future <br />• -6- <br />