Tree controversy has Augusta mayor calling for staff arborist

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta has trees, and a lot of these trees need attention.

“Look at these trees right in front of the Municipal Building, you can tell they need to be maintained and trimmed properly it’s not just trees on the historic side of Augusta they’re all-around town around our parks,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson .

There has been a lot of criticism of the planned removal of dozens of trees on Telfair Street.

In a city that boasts of being a Tree City USA.

Yet it doesn’t have a city arborist on staff.

“This is why we need an arborist because of incidents like this yes I am not a really happy commissioner seeing trees cut,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight.

“Certainly it needs to be corrected. Not only do we need an arborist, we need a trees and landscape department. I’m going to continue my advocacy for that to make sure it’s put in the 2025 budget,” said Mayor Johnson.

But Mayor Pro-Tem Brandon Garret feels Augusta could get by with contract arborist and not a full-time staff member.

“I just don’t see the ongoing work that an arborists would be able to add to it,” said Garrett.

“There’s not the work for a full-time staff member?”

“I don’t see it,” said the Pro-Tem.

“There’s more than enough work for an on-staff arborists especially for a city our size,” said Johnson.

The call for a specialist to look after the city’s trees as there’s a call to remove many of them.