Council members and residents question $44,000–$45,000 downtown Christmas-tree purchase
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Summary
Residents and council members pressed city officials about reports of large costs for the downtown Christmas tree. The mayor provided a breakdown: the tree itself about $23,000, decorations/topper about $7,000, freight and additional pole decorations bringing the total near $44,000–$45,000.
Council members and residents raised concerns about reported high costs for the downtown Christmas tree during petitions and public-comment portions of the meeting.
Speaker 4 asked for clarity after hearing various figures circulating in the community. In response, Speaker 5 said, "The Christmas tree in Downtown Tipton cost roughly $23,000 itself." He added that a decoration package and topper "came out to just over $7,000," and that freight/shipping was about $2,500. Accounting for additional decorations on light poles, Speaker 5 said the overall package was "roughly 44,000, 45,000" though he emphasized the tree-plus-decoration package alone was about $30,250.
Other council members said constituents had reported even larger figures; Speaker 7 mentioned a constituent who believed the cost was $67,000 and that rumors reaching Hamilton County put the figure higher still. Council members discussed clarifying procurement details and noted that some downtown decorations were donated by a local donor who has contributed pieces in prior years.
Suggestions were raised about involving community groups or high-school organizations in decorating the park tree to reduce city expense and increase community involvement.
What happens next: Council did not vote on procurement; officials said they will continue to provide clarification and noted existing donor participation in park decorations.