Document text
Rally pins hope on council Group believes city can save tree and build library By Jonel Aleccia ASHLAND � Hopeful that a new year and a new City Council might offer new decisions on a planned library expansion, two dozen demonstrators gathered Monday in the shade of a seemingly doomed ginkgo to protest likely removal of the tree. "The process is still open," said Eric Mather, 30, a rally organizer who climbed high into the 55-foot tree to hang tissue-paper butterflies as a small crowd watched below. But that optimism was in sharp contrast to a December City Council decision to proceed with the renovation and expansion of the Carnegie library and to begin construction very soon on the $5.96 million project. Mayor-elect Alan DeBoer attended the protest but indicated that the project likely would proceed as approved. DeBoer and two new council members, Cate Hartzell and John Morrison, take office today. "The council voted unanimously to continue the project," DeBoer said. "Part of the thought is that you either completely resdesign it or you build it." DeBoer last month said he expected construction to begin quickly. Still, protesters said they remained hopeful that the plans could be altered in a way that could retain the 89-year-old ginkgo, one of several trees and shrubs set for removal. "If they could just shave (the building) down 5 feet, they could save our ginkgo tree," said Ryan Mather. "They�ve said it was over from the time they started it." Mather said the alterations could help offset costs that came in at least $571,000 over the $4.1 million construction budget in November. He said he didn�t believe minor changes would significantly shift plans approved twice by voters and bid on by contractors. The library project has become controversial in recent months as some residents express concerns about the expansion, parking and tree removal. Some observers Monday expressed doubt that the protest would alter the city government�s decisions. But Josef Baiddou, 24, of Ashland, said the prayers, the drums and the hopeful gestures were important just the same. "I feel like it�s an opportunity at these gatherings to have community, to come together and to push it into the consciousness," he said. "Either way, it�s an opportunity for education." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.