Village Christmas Tree Placement Decided for 2012

The Village of Oswego Christmas tree will remain at the corner of Jackson and Main for 2012.

The village board discussed the placement of the annual Christmas tree at Tuesday night’s committee of the whole meeting and where the best location would be.

At an earlier meeting in September, trustee Gail Johnson expressed interest in having a larger tree for the village and the possibility of anyone willing to donate one.

The village had used a corner lot at Jackson and Main where they moved a tree four years ago for the purpose of the tree lighting. The property is not owned by the village, but they had been given permission to use it until the land is sold or developed.

At the meeting, Community Relations Manager Michele Bergeron said no one had donated a tree so far and that staff also had concerns about a large tree in their current lot as the guide wires would most likely be a safety hazard and Public Works would need to rent equipment for transporting the tree.

The three options the village considered for this year were to keep the same tree, decorate one at Hudson Crossing Park or use a tree in front of Village Hall.

Bergeron said she and public works director Jerry Weaver had visited Hudson Crossing Park and found only one tree they could use, but that it was very sparse in the front of the tree.

“A tree in front of village hall here would be a nice spot for a tree lighting, but it takes people away from Main Street,” said Bergeron.

“I’d like to see it remain downtown. That’s the focus. That’s the hub of who we are, said trustee Jeff Lawson said.

Village President Brian LeClercq agreed and said the idea of “supercharging” the existing tree with extra lights and decorations was a great start.

Johnson said she bought 400 new ornaments for the tree and trustee Terry Michel’s employer had donated $200 for further decorating.

The tree will be decorated in candy cane colors and lit at the Christmas Walk on December 7.