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Lots of people like the trees in downtown Warsaw - they give the area a warm, homey look.
But who is responsible for them? Who is supposed to water, fertilize and trim them, and clean up when they shed their leaves?
The Downtown Rehabilitation Committee recently got a jolt when it received a petition on a subject long thought to be settled - the fate of the trees along the blocks of Center Street now being reconstructed.
The petition, which is signed by 27 merchants along Center and Buffalo streets, says, "I request the preservation of the curb side trees and request the utmost care and protection to maintain their good health be given the trees during the repair, construction and completion of the Center Street project."
Problem is, the rehab board decided to do away with the trees for several reasons: Digging up and replacing the sidewalks would damage the roots and probably kill the existing trees; the cost to replace the trees is not in the city budget and many merchants are not willing to pay for it themselves; and removing the trees would give the "new" downtown a clean look.
And the downtown rehab plan calls for installing street lights where the trees are now.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said it would cost approximately $175 per tree to replace the trees that die during construction, and $150 for the grates around the base of the trees.
It is the responsibility of the property owners to maintain and clean up after the trees, said public works superintendent Kim Leake. But some of those business owners want the city to take care of it.
Pat Donkers, owner of Baskin-Robbins, said Friday, "If the city can put trees in the park, they can put trees back on this street."
Jackie Long, owner of Le Gourmet Chocolate Shoppe, said she thinks the city should take care of the trees, but she would be willing to do it because she thinks they are important to the ambience downtown.
"Trees add such character to a small town's downtown," she said. "I probably would be willing to buy trees, but I really think the city should."
But not all merchants agree that trees are an asset. Some say trees located directly in front of their businesses block the view of their awnings and signs.
They also noted the potential for bird droppings on cars.
Wiggins said he's listened to the merchants and read the petition, but no decision has been made about replacing the trees.
"We're not going to disrupt any of the work or the timing of the work that is underway now," he said Thursday. "Whether the trees get put back in at a later time - that's not cast in stone."
