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Truckload Carriers Association offers Harrison a 'whistle stop' for the national Christmas tree; council to review logistics
Summary
Jean Mason told council the Truckload Carriers Association could route the national Christmas tree through Harrison on the Friday after Thanksgiving; the group flagged security, turn radius and timing questions and city staff agreed to gather measurements and details.
Jean Mason, representing a local trucking company and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) contact Dan Doran, proposed that Harrison host a 'whistle stop' event when the association transports the national Christmas tree from Oregon to Washington, D.C. Mason said the tree would pass through St. Louis on Thursday, Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving) and could stop in Harrison the following day for an intimate downtown presentation tied to local 'shop small' activities.
"The tree is moving from the state of Oregon... and will be arriving in Saint Louis on Thursday, November 22," Mason said, and added the tree typically travels on a stretch flatbed and must be stored securely when stopped. Mason told council the TCA would assist with coordination but the city must confirm whether the truck and trailer could make the needed turns and whether a secure, fenced staging area was available.
Council members raised practical concerns: turning radius at the intersection of State and Harrison Avenue, securing the tree behind locked fencing, traffic control during offload and whether the event should be downtown or staged at a larger, fenced site such as Biggs. The mayor asked staff to get exact axle‑to‑axle measurements and for Dan (TCA contact) to provide vehicle dimensions so the city can evaluate routes and security options. One council member noted the Friday after Thanksgiving already coincides with 'shop small' activities downtown and said the stop could boost local businesses if logistics work.
City staff and the Chamber expressed willingness to coordinate, and Mason said TCA and her employer would provide route planning and support. The proposal was informational; council instructed staff and organizers to return with measurements, security plans and a recommended route before making a final commitment.
