Big Horn Logging Corp. workers were on the job Friday in Dorothy M. Burns Memorial Park in Amity to remove 63 Douglas firs, 45 of which are diseased.

Paul Daquilante / News-Register

The Amity City Council angered residents when it voted unanimously at a Wednesday night special meeting to remove 63 of the more than 200 mature Douglas firs gracing the Dorothy M. Burns Memorial Park, mostly on the north side.

Forty-five of the trees are diseased. The remaining 18 will be removed to give fallers better access to the diseased trees and clear an area for additional parking.

In addition, 15 oak trees will be removed to provide more room for playground equipment.

Amity contracted with Big Horn Logging Corp. to do the work. Mark Stanley of Big Horn said the work began Friday morning and probably will take a week or two.

"We don't want to mess anything up," he said.

Police Chief Dan Brown said the park will be closed to the public until the work is completed. Yellow caution tape is being used to warn people off.

A small council chambers was packed for the meeting.

The decision brought many outraged residents to their feet. Some pointed fingers at Mayor Michael Cape and members of the council, as others loudly voiced their frustration.

The purpose of the meeting was to give the council an opportunity to make a decision, based on public comment received in previous meetings. Thus, no time was set aside for additional input.

However, as councilors discussed the issue, Allen Halloway stood up and began speaking. Cape asked him to sit down, as he had not been called to speak.

"The way the mayor spoke to Allen was rude and arrogant," said Sharon Haggith, who attended the meeting with her husband, Alden. They own Ashes Cafe on Trade Street.

"He's 90 plus years old and had some legitimate questions," she said. "He got shut down."

The discussion leading to the vote took about 15 minutes. Then the shouting and finger-pointing began.

"What a jerkhouse bunch of creeps," one resident said.

Brown was in the audience. He wasn't in uniform, but when the atmosphere started to grow hostile, he told people to "take it outside."

One resident responded, "I have a right to say what I want to say."

City Administrator Larry Layton said Steve Garner of Garner Timber Services in Yamhill determined the diseased trees have contracted a fungus that creates decay, or conk.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Pacific Northwest Region:

n When trees have many large conks, damage to the heartwood is extensive and tree failure is likely.

n With a few or single conks, affected trees may have adequate strength to withstand high wind forces, and tree failure is unlikely.

n Large conks indicate more decay. Smaller conks usually indicate less, unless the apparent small conks are remnants of larger conks that have fallen off.

n Decay is a white pocket rot found in rings separated by sound wood until decay is advanced.

Layton said he understands the importance of the park and its trees to residents. He said it's not the intent of the council to remove any more trees than necessary.

The hope is the remaining trees will last longer as a result. The trees being taken down will, in most cases, be replaced.

Councilors Karen Dahl, Walter Homen, John Lines and Rudy van Soolen were present. Scott Ruyle was absent.

Van Soolen moved the city proceed with the project. He got a quick second. Discussion and the vote followed.

Homen said he has been mulling the issue over in his mind for some time. He said he isn't thrilled about removing some of the park's trees, but said the city could face a lawsuit if a diseased tree toppled over on a person.

"I'm concerned about someone getting injured," Lines said. "This is like a no-brainer. Let's get it done and beautify the park in other ways."

Sharon Haggith blasted the council, however, accusing it of "shoving the meeting down the throats of residents without so much as a thank you." She said the council had its own agenda.

"If the trees have conk, show me a report and take care of the problem," Haggith said. "Show me a report of how many trees are affected and where they are located. I was told there is no official report."

Amity is receiving $85.40 per 1,000 board feet of salvageable timber. However, the first few trees felled Friday were in much worse shape than expected, so much of the wood may be beyond use.