Japanese Maples in Sander’s Park infested with bagworms, may die

This Japanese Maple tree is one of four in Sander’s Park that officials are trying to save.

Sanders Park may be an even sunnier place as the Japanese maple trees that adorn the four planters are infested and may be in danger of dying.

Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Kriebel told the tourism commission Tuesday night that the after consulting with Whitley County Extension Service Agent Paul Dengel who in turn consulted with the state arborist, it has been determined that the trees should be cut back to stop the spread of bag worms.

“We will then see if they will come back in the spring,” Kriebel told the tourism commission.

“It is really odd because bagworms are typically found in evergreen trees,” Kriebel added noting shrubbery in the pots along Main Street had been infested. “Somehow the Japanese Maples are getting them.”

The commissioners agreed with Kriebel’s proposal to wait until after the annual NIBROC Festival to have the work performed.

The trees were initially planted in the spring of 2014 as part of the construction of Sanders Park.

The four planters were designed to provide shade to the park.

In other business the commissioners:

• Approved a motion to send out request for proposals for the construction of a steel canopy over the L&N 2132 steam locomotive, coal tender and caboose that was recently refurbished.

Kriebel told the commissioners that the canopy would need to be 125 feet long by 20 feet wide and 22 feet tall.

“That gives us six feet of clearance over the locomotive,” Kriebel explained.

In addition, Kriebel said the underside of the canopy must be insulated.

“That will keep condensation from building up and dripping down on the rolling stock,” Kriebel said.

Kriebel announced that invitations are being sent out for the planned ribbon cutting on the restoration project, which is scheduled for Sept. 22.

Among the dignitaries invited would be officials from the Bainbridge, Georgia City Council, which voted to donate the pieces to Corbin, and the L&N Historical Society Board of Directors, which donated $5,000 toward the restoration effort.

• Received an update on the railroad museum efforts.

Kriebel told the commissioners that new artifacts are continuing to come in, including a recent lot of 300 pieces.

With so many artifacts and limited space, Kriebel advised that the museum might be forced to look at a stipulation in its donation policy that states items that have been gifted to the museum are the property of the museum and may be dealt with accordingly.

Kriebel explained there are instances where the museum has received multiple duplicates of items such as train schedules and some of those items may be sold to raise funds to help build the museum.

“We only have so much storage space,” Kriebel said.

• Kriebel announced that as planning goes forward on the restoration of the interior of the caboose, the museum was recently gifted with a pair of walkover seats.

The bench style seats found in the caboose, have a seat back that may be rotated into opposite positions so the facing may be changed to match the direction of the train’s travel.

The seats were a gift from railroad enthusiast Ron Flannery, who found the seats in Connecticut and donated them to the project.

• Met in executive session for 25 minutes to discuss pending litigation.

No formal action was taken.