Controversy Surrounds Waterfront Donation
Lindsey Griffin, owner of L.R. Griffin & Associates, Inc., a commercial landscaping company in Greenville, donated eight Crape Myrtles to the city of Washington to be planted between the former Maola Plant and the N.C. Estuarium. The planting of the shrubs at the specified location had been approved by the Washington City Council, but there were disagreements about whether Crape Myrtles are shrubs or trees.
“The idea was brought to the council as planting shrubs,†Washington City Manager Jim Smith said Wednesday. “It said shrubs in the minutes.â€
The primary concern with the Crape Myrtles was their size.
“I started getting calls about trees being planted, not shrubs,†Smith said. “The things being planted, Crape Myrtles, are technically shrubs, but they grow to 30 feet. The ones we had delivered are already eight feet.â€
One of those concerned was Washington Mayor Judy Meier Jennette. From the motion that the council approved, Jennette said she assumed that the shrubs would be much smaller.
“I just wanted to make sure that whatever was going down there was what we agreed on … in keeping with what we actually voted on,†Jennette said.
The planting of the shrubs, which was scheduled for Wednesday morning, was put on hold so that the Washington City Council could deliberate on the situation.
“I pulled the council together this afternoon,†Smith said.
There was some disagreement between council members during the deliberation.
“There was great debate between the council over whether they were trees or bushes,†Jennette said.
The issue was eventually resolved, according to Smith.
“The majority were fine with the shrubs,†Smith said.
The planting of the shrubs was approved, in part, because they were a “very generous donation,†according to Jennette.
“We decided that it was a great idea to accept them whether they were trees or bushes,†Jennette said. “I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I’m glad to accept the gift.â€
Development between the former Maola Plant and the N.C. Estuarium has been a hot topic in Washington.
“Everyone’s always suspicious when the site gets touched,†Smith said.
Jennette reaffirmed Smith’s statement.
“I know it’s a very touchy situation down there,†Jennette said. “There’s a group of people that are very intense about getting certain things in place.â€
Jennette was pleased with the new shrubs, but said she wants to make sure that any future work done to the area has the City Council’s approval.
“It’s just that I want to make sure we follow some rationale as we prepare the park area over there,†Jennette said.
The planting of the shrubs between the former Maola factory and the N.C. Estuarium was the second phase of a proposal that Griffin brought before the City Council. Griffin, who owns a commercial landscaping company, approached Jennette about making a significant donation to the waterfront.
“He approached me several months ago about donating some trees to the waterfront,†Jennette said. “He said that he would donate four trees if the city bought four.â€
Griffin, a resident of Greenville and owner of “Lrg Time,†a houseboat permanently docked on the Washington Waterfront, said he was unimpressed by the small trees that lined the promenade.
“He really wanted to do something on the waterfront,†Jennette said. “He said ‘You really don’t notice the trees because they are so small’.â€
After meeting with Jennette, Griffin spoke with Smith regarding his idea.
“He went to the city manager to make arrangements with Parks and Recreation,†Jennette said.
Plans were set in place for the waterfront trees after the Washington City Council approved their planting.
“The city bought four at $2,000 a piece, including transplanting and everything,†Jennette said.
Jennette was happy with the work done by Griffin on the waterfront.
“The trees look great; you can really notice them now,†Jennette said.
The trees formerly lining the promenade were moved to the Washington Veteran’s Park on Third Street.
Unlike the trees lining the Washington Waterfront, the eight Crape Myrtles were donated in full by Griffin. Bud Brooks, owner of Brooks Construction, and employees Johnny Ayers, Jimmy Shed, John Carson and Mike Woolard volunteered to transplant the shrubs.
Tags: amp, bushes, council members, deliberation, disagreements, generous donation, gift horse in the mouth, great debate, jennette, jim smith, Landscaping, Landscaping Company, planting shrubs, rta, shrub, shrubs, washington mayor, wednesday morning0
Monday, May 12th, 2008
