Public comment on historic live oak tree
What the county recorded
This item is not from the published agenda
It is a stretch of the recording that this archive identified as a separate matter — a call to order, a recess, or something taken up that the agenda does not list. There is no official title, no staff recommendation and no disposition, because the county never recorded one. Everything below is inferred.
The source document
The county’s agenda for Board of County Commissioners, Aug 5, 2025
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
The county’s minutes for Board of County Commissioners, Aug 5, 2025
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
What was said
Machine transcription of 18m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 76% of 67 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
Here. Okay, now is the time for public comment. Citizens are given an opportunity to comment on any current or future agenda. Idem coming before the board and on other business under the board's purview. Today's public comment will be handled as follows. First, we will take public comment from those who are here in person. Then we will take public comment from those who have pre-registered for a WebEx link and are currently on cue.
We request that when you address the board, comments are not directed personally against the Commissioner Oak Member, but rather directed at the issues. This provides mutual respect between the board members and the public. after stating your name and address for the clerk, The three minute timer will be activated and a green light will be shown on the podium. After two minutes a yellow light will indicate you have one minute left. When your time is up, a red light will be displayed. Three beeps will sound and you should close your
comments. WebEx participants will be disconnected automatically when their time is up. And Madam Clerk, do we have any Mr. Clerk?
Do we have any? Yes, ma'am, we do. Uh Diane Redman.
Good morning. I'm Diane Redmond, former, well, maiden named Prater. I live at [address removed]. I am a lifetime resident. I was born in Dr. Stanfield's clinic. I also have family members, founding fathers, own the medallions out here for the McKendries and the Tuckers. My dad is also on the memorial. So I've got skin in the game. Uh I'm here to Ask you to please consider this. I know a
lot of people are talking about tearing tearing down the the tree. And I've got another concern. Uh I live on River River River Road and uh I found out that trees, large trees, that are cut down. that the roots literally will destroy the structure of if become if Sorry, I'm nervous. I've never done this before. Uh the tree, the roots, so you tell how far the roots go out by
the the canopy. And uh so this the tree out here that everybody's talking about wanting to remove. I don't agree with it because my dad, like I said, my dad's my dad's name there and uh also Mr. Oakley's. Uh Close to the air. Anyway, so I live on River Road and if anybody knows anything about River Road, there was a large tree taken down there by the church. And it was probably 60 plus years ago. And
to this day You go over the road, you know exactly where it is, no matter how many times they repair it. The area just you just dip. You just dip. And they've been out there multiple, multiple times. And I say this is at least sixty years ago. And what my concern is that you take down the tree, those roots are all up underneath there. And all I can see is it's going to f the structure is gonna it's gonna fail as far as the underground structure of this of this uh
you know of our memorial. And that's I guess you could say that's my really big concern because I've seen it happen. Like I said, drive out River Road see if I'm not telling you the truth. And go right on there. But anyway, so I'm here. I'm a long time like I said, I was I was born here and my mother was born out at Derby World. We are natives. Can't get I mean, Doctor stay off this clinic by the post office. I just I just ask, please. Please
consider the other part of it that it could literally do exactly what you don't want to do. is to damage the structure instead of saving it. I would appreciate that if you would consider that. Thank you.
Uh we
don't allow clapping. We don't allow clapping
in here, so thank you very much. Uh Kevin Taggart.
Good morning. Hi, Pasco. Uh I've got a
Name and uh name and address for the Rick.
My name is Kevin Taggerty. I'm right here in [address removed]. Um I've got about twenty members and if I can kind of consolidate and wrap things up a little quicker, uh if I could have a little extension on time.
Well are you speaking for all of them?
Uh could everyone stand up representing our trees today?
Okay, so if um if those folks aren't gonna speak then um we'll give you more time.
I I talked to 'em before so they they wouldn't sign up to do that. So I'd appreciate that.
We have uh three more signed
Okay, then we'll go.
Okay, I was unaware of that.
Okay. Um put my readers on. Good morning, Commissioner. As I said, my name is Kevin Taggerty. I voted for you guys on this board. I don't have any personal problems. I have seen some attacks against some of you members and that I did not organize a protest. I did order organize a peaceful gathering, and most of those people are here today. So I just want to let you guys know that. I appreciate you guys for taking the emails
and calls. And anybody that's personally uh reach back out to me. Uh today we're gonna register we are requesting That the County Board Register LIBO No. seven. Right here. in the uh courthouse lawn as a historic live oak tree to be registered. Sits on the north lawn for over two two hundred to two hundred and fifty years is what our arborist report are saying. This tree has been through numerous
historical events, including Semino Indian Wars. Civil War, World Wars, and even generations of families, as we heard. uh Francis Dade in eighteen thirty five marched his men just uh about a mile from here, on their way to Fort King on their road to Fort King up to uh Oh. The uh fort. before the the Dade City Massacre happened. A 250-year-old tree. This means this tree has
lived under Great Britain. It's lived under Spain. And now the United States. This tree never moved its roots. It's been in the same exact location. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, The tree Maybe from seventeen seventy-three, predates seventeen seventy-six when our declaration of independence was signed. With proper care this tree can last centuries more. It's been through centuries
of hurricanes, major storms, droughts, floods, human threats. Thankfully, Commissioner Sylvia Young, PASCO Commissioner, whose name's on this w this building. She was instrumental in saving that tree and was able to convince the county to turn their vote around to save the tree. However, the tree was never registered historically and we hope that that can be done. The Arborist reports from twenty fifteen and twenty twenty five do not recommend tree removal. They do they
do not. It does issue uh that there's the twenty fifteen does list issues with the tree, but maintains ISA certified orderists follow-up.
So we got two reports supporting uh that the tree does not need to come down. There's no visible uh Uh the green the tree is lush and green. There's no visible uh failing of the tree as mentioned in previous reports. And I'm afraid that maybe a lot on the county. There might have been some information passed around, but we want to definitely share some facts and we invite you to look at the tree after uh today's meeting and just walk around it. Uh as for sable palms,
there's no public support for the sable palms on this landscape. Dade City Pasco County is Tre Tree City. and sable palms do not match this inland landscape. Sable palms technically aren't aren't even trees, even though they're are state tree. It's an actual grass. Old number seven is claimed to be a threat to our memorial bandstand. We have lots of veterans, but we have family members. We had three out there last meeting that stood up for that tree.
and they sit in the shade when they honor their family members at the bandstand. It is near and dear and I know uh Commissioner Oakley does have family on there and we don't We don't want to see any of these memorials destroyed. That tree should be a memorial. Um Again, the Arborist report. You can see that the tree is trimmed around the bandstand and the major limbs uh would not fall directly if they did snap as mentioned previously. But we currently
there is a low threat. This tree Uh we should have funds already to save our memorials, especially this tree. Uh if funds aren't already set aside to help preserve the bandstand, we need to. If you notice the police memorial already had one of the plaques fall off, and the the blue uh grass tiles, the the little blue strip for the thin blue line is starting to come undone, and all those little blue chips are uh splashed. spread it up. So we should have money to
fix these memorials, uh hopefully. Uh and we need that bandstand also protected. Someone could drive their car into it. You know, where s or a a sable palm if planted there could also fall on it. We we just need to be ready. This tree cleans our air, produces oxygen, provides shade. Shelter for Wildlife, this mature tree can produce about 275 liters of oxygen. It will make 25 million liters of oxygen and it's
250 years and she's not even halfway done with her life. Please register Oak No. 7 on a historic as a historic tree. As soon as possible, let's stop and protect this tree. Halt the plan to cut it down and let's stop the current Sable Palm Plan. Please. Let's just leave everything as is for right now. Dade City should have a seat at this table on the landscape designs. Let us save the tree, preserve our history, future, Can I get a motion?
We don't do that. Good try.
Had to ask. I do appreciate you guys. I
know
I am not personally against I know it's a very heated thing and when it comes to a tree. I know Mr. Oakley's taking a lot of heat. Uh it's we we have to find some kind of desire, but I have yet to run to anybody that wants this tree room.
I thank you. Next?
Belbert Belton.
Morning. Morning. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for letting me speak. You can move that mic down.
Thank you for letting me speak. My name is Barbara Barthel. I'm a fourth generation Pasco County, born and raised here. A lot of you may know me or have seen me before because I've spoken before the commissioners before in different capacities. The reason I am speaking today is to let you know that I have obtained the forms to actually request that the tree be um considered or um
maintained as a historic landmark and I will be filling them out. I re um actually obtained those forms late yesterday afternoon and I will be talking to the City of Dade City and also asking them to make a historic landmark through the City of Dade City. So I'll ask for them to do that with them first since it is in the City of Dade City and then actually put that Through
the Planning Commission with the Pasco County Board, second, because that's what they have requested for me to do. So I have all of those forms to do that and request that the tree be made a historic landmark as of the tree. So I just wanted to make you aware that I will be filling out those forms to make. the tree because the tree has been there forever and nothing has ever happened. There, you know, I've raised my children
here and then I was raised here. There's been, you know, cupcakes sold and I remember when I took my children before the memorial was, you know, closed off and Santa Claus used to sit in Side of it and you would take pictures of your children, you know, going and seeing Santa Claus. And now, of course, you can't do that because the memorial needs to have a lot of work done to it. And I know that the people that are here to support the
tree would support helping to get monies to fix that memorial. So, you know, we'll start one thing at a time to say one thing at a time and we Be glad to help, you know, save the memorial and get funds to you know do that memorial. But we need to save that tree because that means a lot to Dade City, and it's it's a representation of who we are in Pasco County, Dade City. And I thank you for letting me speak.
Barbara, could you add your address?
Oh, I'm sorry. Uh it's [address removed].
Thank you, Barbara. Connie Lamarca.
Could you give us your address for the record?
Sure. It's [address removed]. Okay. Um thank you very much for this opportunity to speak. And obviously I am here in support of saving the tree and making it a historic landmark. I will not reiterate the things that you've already heard. But I will tell you that when I moved here forty years ago. I was in awe of the beauty of this city. I
was in awe of all of the land around this city. It was inspiring. And I just want to say that I think people have spoken to the environmental and historical significance of the tree. I want to speak to the spirit of the tree. and the way in which it truly reflects the identity of Dade City. And indeed, I think all of Pasco County. Uh it is native to us. And
what I'm really hoping for is that you will move forward on the historic plan. And I really want to see the county and the city work together to preserve this tree and and bring unity to the community. And thank you very much.
And Kevin Minard.
Karen, I'm sorry. Karen Mannon.
Shake it last
one.
Your address for the record, please.
My address is [address removed]. I'm Karen Minard and I come before you today and I appreciate your time as a member of the Dade City Garden Club. Um and with regards to the tree. I understand the roles that the the the state, the county and the city have with regards to the trees. Trees in the state of Florida are protected and live oaks, especially grand live oaks, are part of that protection.
With regards to the county, the county would be responsible for designate getting the designation for that tree as a historical tree. With regards to removing the tree, it's the city's responsibility to approve that permit. Any trees that are within the city limits need to get the permit from the city. Within the the city's municipal code, it specifically states that any tree that exceeds forty inches in diameter at breast height cannot
be removed, especially if the tree has been deemed healthy and well cared for. Uh Dade City. Does have the designation as a Tree City USA. It's maintained that designation for 18 years. Part of that designation requires that Uh The city have a tree board, they have a tree care ordinance, they have the money to take care of the trees, and that they have an Arbor Date observation
observation and a proclamation and we do all those things and I'd like to uh encourage the county to uphold that program's um goals and save that tree. Thank you for your time.
Thank you. That's the last person we have signed up and we have no one online.
Right. Um So we've heard from the tree folks. Is there anyone else who wants to speak on a different topic here today?
Okay, and there's no one. Has someone raised their hand?
Okay. She break. No, she's legal. All right, um then that will uh end public comment.