MUNFORD – The Stewart pecan tree that sparked a debate between the Munford Town Council and the town’s seniors will be cut down as planned.

The conflict stemmed from a decision at the last council meeting to remove two pecan trees next to town hall and in the yard adjacent to the senior center. The decision let to a protest by members of the senior center who felt the Stewart pecan next to town hall was too important to the town to be taken away.

During the town work session on Tuesday, the council decided to maintain its vote from that meeting to remove the tree. Mayor Lynn Swinford said the council weighed all the safety factors and the seniors’ protests before decided not to revote on the matter.

“The bottom line is we don’t want to see any of the seniors getting hurt,” Swinford said.

The council agreed that the falling limbs from the tree posed too much of a safety hazard, particularly with people of all ages collecting pecans underneath it.

“I don’t want to see it go either. I picked pecans there myself, but if you look at it good, it’s susceptible to limbs falling,” he said.

Councilman Wade Champion added that he had discussed partial removal of only certain limbs with a tree service, but learned that would not eliminate any lasting safety risks.

The council decided that as the vote had already passed, the decision would stay.

The seniors had protested because they not only felt the tree was a landmark, but because most of them remember growing up with it being as part of their environment. Many continue to pick its pecans every year.

Judith Moon, Director of the senior center in Munford said that although the seniors didn’t agree with the council’s decision, they would respect it. She felt the decision came partially from the council not identifying with them.

“We appreciate everything the city does for the seniors, but they need to get more involved with them,” she said.