Corrales to Cut Down Tree

Efforts to save a decades-old cottonwood tree were clipped with a Tuesday night vote by the Corrales Village Council — despite the wishes of the Tree Preservation Advisory Committee.

The battle over the monstrous tree in the parking lot of the Historic Old San Ysidro Church started in September when large branches began falling off. The tree had just made its way onto the Tree Preservation Advisory Committee’s list of landmark trees. Two days before the committee was to install the designation plaque, a huge limb from the tree came crashing down.

Worries about the condition of the tree prompted the village to call in an arborist to give some advice, but before he could begin his presentation, another branch fell. This time there was at least one casualty — a car parked nearby. The branch shattered the back window and smashed the back end of the vehicle.

Mayor Phil Gasteyer said it was at this time the issue became political.

The Corrales Historical Society, which manages the old church property for the village, wanted the tree removed, citing safety concerns. But the preservation committee wanted to save it.

Gasteyer said the council told him it needed to decide the matter. Gasteyer said he was somewhat surprised and asked councilors if they were sure they didn’t want him to make an executive decision.

“They said, ‘No. We’ve been getting a lot of calls,’” he said. “But they voted, and I ended up breaking the tie. In the end, I had to decide.”

Gasteyer decided the tree needed to be removed.

The mayor said comments during a December council meeting from Ed Zendel, risk services director for the New Mexico Municipal League Self Insurer’s Fund, convinced him removing the tree was the right thing to do.

He said Zendel was very clear that the village would be liable if the tree fell and caused more property damage or hurt someone.

“It was the prudent thing to do,” Gasteyer said. “It’s a clear case of strict liability for the village.”

The council decision came after spending two hours and 15 minutes on the topic. The vote was split three to three, with councilors Gerard Gagliano, Ennio Garcia-Miera and John Alsobrook voting against chopping down the tree and Pat Clauser, Sayre Gerhart and Mick Harper voting to do it.

Bryan Shur, the arborist hired by the village to inspect the tree, said it was not dead, but there were signs of decay. He said it could be saved but would require maintenance. He said the tree is 50 to 80 years old.

Gasteyer said although maintenance might make the tree less of a risk, keeping it could be costly to the village.