(The Times and Democrat published the following story by Larry P. Jordan on its website on September 11.)
CAMERON — The fate of 32 trees planted during the town of Cameron’s centennial celebration remained up in the air late Wednesday as town officials scrambled to try to block CSX Railroad from removing them.
Twenty-eight crepe myrtle, three dogwoods and one cedar appeared to be doomed Monday when a railroad subcontractor showed up at Cameron Town Hall with orders to remove the trees in front of the town hall. The trees targeted for removal had been donated by seven residents and planted in memory of deceased loved ones and friends during the town’s centennial celebration in 1996.
Just minutes before the regular monthly meeting of the Cameron Town Council Monday night, the subcontractor from Registers Land Development of Cary, N.C., advised Mayor Marion Black that he had been contracted to remove the trees. The news buzzed through Cameron like a chainsaw, upsetting elected officials and citizens alike.
The Registers Landing representative explained to town leaders that CSX required a certain clearance from the center of the railroad for visibility and, therefore, the trees had to be removed.
Black said the town was able to reach an agreement that the company would continue with other parts of the contracted work, while the town attempted to contact CSX to resolve the situation.
Although the trees are on railroad property, the town had originally contacted CSX by letter for permission to plant them, the mayor said, but the town failed to get a response from the railroad. Cameron officials then notified the railroad that if they received no response, that would be taken as approval for the planting, Black said.
Since learning of CSX’s plans to remove the trees, Black said he has been in contact with various CSX officials, including an assistant to the chief executive officer. The mayor said the railroad official told him that a CSX representative, Jeff Thordahl, would be coming to Cameron Wednesday to discuss the situation with the trees.
In his efforts to try to save the trees, Black said he also contacted the offices of Gov. Mark Sanford, U.S. Senators Fritz Hollings and Lindsey Graham, Congressman Jim Clyburn and Sen. Brad Hutto.
In the meantime, Black said Cameron’s new motto is “Save Our Trees.”