City officials hope to have smaller, easier-to-maintain trees inplace soon after larger trees were removed Saturday on WestCherokee Street.

A city crew removed the tops of holly trees along the streetbefore dawn Saturday. The activity took less than an hour.

“They’re not big enough or tall enough to get up in the bucketto cut,” said Jimmy Furlow, city departmental coordinator. “We’lltake the tops out, and the street department will come back and getthe stumps.”

One tree was left in place to avoid hitting a car parked alongthe street. Furlow said the tree would be cut later this week.

Weather permitting, Furlow said the street department’s workwould likely start Tuesday. City offices are closed Monday forPresidents Day.

Similar to activities late last year on Whitworth and Railroadavenues, new Sasanqua trees will be planted on Cherokee Street.Ward Three Alderwoman Mary Wilson, whose district includes thestreet, said the new trees will be planted as soon as possible.

“As soon as the take up the trees already there, we’ll plant thenew ones,” Wilson said.

Aldermen approved the tree-related activity during last week’smeeting.

Ward Four Alderwoman Shirley Estes said the Krewe of Ceres hasmade a donation to assist with the new trees. Estes and Wilson havebeen working with Brookhaven Beautiful on the tree project in thedowntown area.

Wilson said the new trees will be a “great improvement” for thedowntown area.

“It’ll be better for the businesses,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the holly trees were big , blocked business signsand caused other problems during the year.

Alderman at large Les Bumgarner, who owns The Locker Room onWest Cherokee Street, agreed. He said planting new trees is a”tremendous idea.”

“The ones there now have gotten too big and out of control,”Bumgarner said Friday. “I think (the new trees) are going to helpthe look of downtown.”

Furlow and Bumgarner said comments they had heard about theremoving the larger trees but keeping smaller ones have beenpositive.

“Everybody likes the idea of having trees growing downtown,”Bumgarner said.