Four maple trees at the intersection of Grant and Main streets will be cut down sometime next year.

City manager John Hitt said the trees are damaging to the sidewalk and neighboring parking lot.

"We had it looked at by engineers and the consensus was the only real solution is to take those trees out," Hitt explained. "And we came to that decision reluctantly. We like to have them there. They are attractive and have been there a long time."

After the trees come down, city staff plan to build a pergola in its place.

"We don't want to shock the community. We've already talked to the downtown group. Partners for Progress is aware of the plans," he said.

No date has been set for the trees to come down.

"It's just a matter of once we have the money to do the pergola and replant the area and relandscape it, we will go ahead with it," Hitt said.

City staff may take on the project "sometime in the spring or next fiscal year," Hitt said.

A rough estimate of the project indicates it may cost about $10,000.