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Newport Tree Board approves removal of five dead street trees
Summary
The Newport Tree Board on Sept. 11 approved removal of five dead trees in public tree wells across West and East Tenth–Twelfth streets, with brief discussion about replacement funding and grant restrictions.
The Newport Tree Board voted unanimously Sept. 11 to remove five dead trees from public tree wells at addresses on West and East Tenth through Twelfth streets in Newport, Kentucky.
Board members said the removals were based on arborist findings that the trees were dead or structurally unsound. The approvals covered five separate cases: NTB25-15 (113 W. 10th St.), NTB25-16 (331 W. 11th St.), NTB25-17 (215 E. 11th St.), NTB25-18 (439 W. 12th St.) and NTB25-19 (519 W. 10th St.).
The removals matter because the trees are in the public right of way and board members said removal would preserve public safety and the character of the neighborhood. The board recorded the rationale presented in the arborist reports and voted on each case individually, as required by its procedures.
The board's arborist, Cassandra, described multiple trees as dead and not salvageable. “This tree is 100% dead,” Cassandra said when presenting the first case, and repeated that assessment for subsequent cases. Don Spalding, a Tree Board member, thanked the person who provided photographs, saying the images “help[] us make a decision while we're here.”
Board members asked whether replacement trees could be funded after removal. Cassandra and the board chair said restrictions that previously limited planting to specific neighborhoods were tied to a particular grant that has since been revoked. “The restriction on trees being planted on the West Side was a function of the one grant … which was then revoked,” the chair said, adding that other grant funds and community groups have increased flexibility for replacements. Cassandra said staff would seek ways to replace trees where feasible, though the board did not adopt any new planting program or direct a specific funding allocation at the meeting.
Each removal was approved by roll call. The recorded votes showed unanimous support among members present: Don Spalding, Neil Connor, Kevin Brogheimer and Brent Owens voted yes on all five cases.
The board approved minutes from its July 10 meeting earlier in the session and adjourned after the tree cases.
Votes at a glance NTB25-15 — 113 W. 10th St.: Approved (4–0). Case found in conformance with board regulations; removal to preserve public safety and neighborhood character. NTB25-16 — 331 W. 11th St.: Approved (4–0). Arborist found tree dying and structurally unsound; board noted flexibility in replacement funding after revocation of a prior grant. NTB25-17 — 215 E. 11th St.: Approved (4–0). Arborist described tree as dead; small size noted. NTB25-18 — 439 W. 12th St.: Approved (4–0). Arborist photo and report indicated tree was dead. NTB25-19 — 519 W. 10th St.: Approved (4–0). Described as a young, dead tulip tree sapling that failed to take after planting.
What happened next The board did not set planting dates or identify specific replacement funding during the meeting. Board staff indicated they will explore grant and community-group options for replacement plantings where possible.
