Because of an infestation of both bugs and vines, property owners received approval from the Eureka Springs Board of Zoning Adjustment to remove five trees.

At is regular monthly meeting held Tuesday, Feb. 10, BOZA approved the removal of the five trees at 13 Armstrong.

“So there’s five trees, two of which are actually touching the house,” said Peter Graham, whose parents are moving into the Armstrong residence. “Our insurance actually is telling us that we can’t get full insurance until those trees are removed. The other three are actually elevated … probably about 8 to 10 feet on the backside of the retaining wall, so that wall is getting pushed out slowly.

“They’re all covered in vines, so that would be the reason why …” The trees are also infected by an “emerald ash borer,” BOZA was told.

“It’s hard to say to what extent they’re infected, but it’s a 100 percent fatality,” arborist Mike Larrew told the board. “It almost is irrelevant how far along it is because it’s going to die.”

COMMISSIONER STEPS DOWN

Planning/BOZA chair Ferguson Stewart announced that commissioner David Buttecali recently resigned, leaving two vacancies on the board.

Welch was voted in as the commission’s new secretary, taking over the role that had been held by Buttecali.