It’s never too early to start Christmas shopping.
Columbus City Council voted Tuesday to approve the purchase of a $15,000 artificial Christmas tree to replace the lighting of the magnolia tree near the pedestrian bridge downtown.
Every year in late November, Main Street Columbus partners with the city for a Christmas tree lighting of a magnolia tree. Mayor Keith Gaskin told council members he had met with Main Street Columbus representatives earlier this month and suggested using an artificial tree.
“We are asking for this because we had a discussion recently about the concerns of being able to light up the magnolia tree this year, which is at the entrance of the Riverwalk, because of the work going on down at the bridge,” Gaskin said.
The pedestrian bridge was damaged in 2020 when a runaway barge struck its eastern support pier. The city is in the process of repairing it, after settling a federal lawsuit with two companies the city sued for the damages. But because of the work, the bridge lights that normally illuminate the area at night will not be on.
The new tree will be purchased from Creative Displays, an artificial display company in Kansas, and will be 12 feet wide at the base and up to 22 feet tall, Chief Financial Officer James Brigham said. A location for the tree has not been determined. It will become the city’s new official tree, Gaskin told The Dispatch after the meeting, though the magnolia tree may also be decorated again in the future.
Gaskin told the council the tree would need to be ordered this week to receive it on time, and Columbus Public Works and Columbus Light and Water will need to work together to install it and hook up its electrical system.
Brigham told The Dispatch he is still working to reduce the overall price of the tree but has already brought it down from its original $21,948 price tag.
“I’m still negotiating a price, but this tree seems to be the most popular among the options,” Brigham said.
At the council meeting, Gaskin said a private donor had agreed in writing to pay for half the tree, and he would reach out to other businesses to fund the other half. He told The Dispatch later Tuesday night that he had contacted the donor, Brock Insurance Agency, after the meeting, and the company agreed to cover the entire cost and be the corporate sponsor.
Main Street Columbus Director Barbara Bigelow said she is excited to partner with the city on the new tree.
“The Christmas tree lighting is always a highlight which kicks off the Main Street Columbus Christmas activities,” she wrote in a text to The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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