Editor,

I am concerned about the landscaping in front of, and around, the Oak Harbor Post Office.

On March 23, 2014, the City of Oak Harbor removed the historic oak tree from in front of the post office on Barrington Avenue.

My question now really has very little to do with the actual removal of the tree, but on whose property the tree was located.

Was the old oak tree on city or U.S. Postal Service property? The reason I ask is because prior to the tree being removed, the landscaping around that area appeared fairly well-kept. However, since the removal of the tree, the area on which it stood and the surrounding landscape has become an eyesore.

It is overrun with weeds and signs of general neglect.

Each time I drive past our Post Office, I am embarrassed that guests to our city would see such an unsightly array of weeds and overgrowth.

Is this how our city and post office want others to see our landscape of public buildings and grounds? Or does the Island County Economic Development Council have a plan for addressing such concerns?

Whether this property belongs to the City of Oak Harbor or to the U.S. Postal Service, I urge one of them to become responsible and arrange for a landscape cleanup and maintenance program for that area immediately.

Prospective businesses to our area will visit our city and observe the way this building’s landscape is managed and may question if our city has standards for how public buildings and businesses maintain their landscape and facilities.

Our wonderful community has so much to offer and many well-kept parks, and private and public properties. Let’s urge those who have the authority to do something about the landscaping at the post office to do it.

Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion, and I trust there are other like-minded individuals who will stand with me to rally the cause for remedying this situation.

Cheryl Lawler

Oak Harbor