Gurnee trustee's trees now in right spot

Gurnee Trustee Greg Garner says he no longer has trees he ordered through a village program after he stopped a replanting that would have moved the saplings from his private land to the public parkway.

The three trees have been hauled away and Garner will receive a $495 refund for the order he placed with the village's parkway tree program, officials said Friday.

It ends a saga that began last week when Garner disputed claims the three trees were improperly planted on his front lawn at his direction. He's contended top village staffers gave advance approval of his idea to place the trees on his property to keep them away from parkway power lines.

"This is probably the last time I'll do business with the village as a trustee," he said.

Word the trees have been hauled away came a day after village officials said the saplings had been moved from Garner's front yard and replanted in the parkway.

Mayor Kristina Kovarik said it had initially appeared that had been done Thursday morning. Three holes had been dug in the parkway for the planned relocation, she said.

However, Garner said he ordered the tree relocation halted Thursday after he was contacted by his wife and she informed him a crew was about to perform the work. He said he had no idea the village planned to send the outside contractors to relocate the trees.

Village Administrator James Hayner said Garner telephoned him to have the tree relocation stopped Thursday.

Similar to programs in other suburbs, Gurnee this year will share the cost of about 60 parkway saplings. Public money pays half the $330 cost of delivery and planting, with the homeowner covering the $165 balance.

Garner said he did not want the trees moved to the parkway because they would not thrive there. He said the spots on his private property were staked with village approval when the crew arrived to plant the trees May 26.

Hayner has said there were stakes designating where the trees should have gone on the parkway near Garner's house. He said the contractor informed the village that Garner requested the trees be moved onto his private lawn.

Garner reiterated Friday he believes politics drove the tree controversy. He's political rivals with Kovarik.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=384250">Public trees planted on Gurnee trustee's lawn <span class="date">[05/28/10]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>