A ground swell of public comments about what to do with the post office oak tree after it’s cut down has both opened up possibilities and complicated things, Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen said last week.

Five wood artists, a furniture maker, an architect and a man who owns a wood mill offered a variety of ideas, from giant-sized carvings to painted logs, at the Parks Board meeting Monday.

“It’s a big tree,” said South Whidbey woodcarver Pat McVay. “There’s a lot of wood and a lot of options.”

But the question is how to choose the best ones.

Senior Planner Robert Voigt told the board that the historic but dying Garry oak tree provides an opportunity for the city to put together guidelines regarding public art as well as an informal selection committee. Amendments to the city Comprehensive Plan due to be adopted by the council next week include the necessary policies, Voigt said, but a specific process needs to be refined.

Voigt said the intent is to involve the public as much as possible into decisions regarding public art. He said the process should be as uncomplicated as possible, but it needs to be equitable in a way that gives all interested artists a chance while weeding out bad ideas.

“We want to have a system that is fair and works for all these different intents,” he said. “If we don’t do that, someone will come with six bronze baby shoes, say they’re public art and want them to be put in the front lobby of City Hall.”

Voigt said the oak tree will be a good “pilot project” for the new policy. He said he hopes to create a draft of the guidelines next week. After that, the informal selection committee may be put together. The committee and staff will likely put out calls for proposals to interested artists and woodworkers, then choose among them based on certain conditions.

But with the strong feelings about the tree and number of ideas out there, the committee will certainly have their work cut out for them.

McVay and two other members of “Island Art” in Clinton gave an informal presentation about some of their ideas. McVay said the trunk and shortened limbs could be left in place, decorated with carved animals, early settlers, Native Americans, or even Prowler jets.

“The possibilities are endless,” he said.

The carved, sanded and varnished truck could even have an archway that people could walk through, he added. Also, McVay suggested that the limbs could be turned into benches or sculptures for other areas in the city.

Oak Harbor furniture maker Karl Nielsen, however, questioned whether the wood from a Garry oak would hold up well outside. He said the wood is susceptible to wood-eating beetles and wet weather.

Nielsen said the giant trunk could be sawed into lumber and made into indoor furniture, like desks, tables, doors, book cases and even a gavel for the mayor.

Terry LeDesky, an Oak Harbor architect, recommended that tree be cut into vertical slabs and carved into murals to be placed around town. He said school classes can help researched city history and then help carve the wood into appropriate scenes.

“We should allow the oldest member of the community,” he said, “to tell the story of the city.”

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstens

land@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.