The

Fayette County Board of Education scrapped a

proposal to clear-cut approximately 17 acres of

timber land Monday night, in favor of an

alternate plan to harvest 532 pines of 13-inch

DBH (diameter at breast height), leaving 791

trees, or 44 trees per acre.

The

board will use the $31,982 produced from the

timber sale to help fund construction of a new

green house at Fayette County High School, which

includes an environmental science program.

"I'm

more comfortable with this proposal," school

board Chairman Debbie Condon said.

The

board had a choice of four recommendations

prepared by Jerry Whitaker, coordinator for the

school district's vocational and educational

program. The first, and most drastic proposal,

called for harvesting all 1,323 acres of timber

land, netting the school board $42,046. The other

two plans reduced the number of trees and the

total DBH of trees harvested.

No

hardwoods are included in the harvest, although

the proposal stated that some trees may be

damaged in the process of thinning out the

property.

The

acreage in question is on the corner of McElroy

and McDonough roads. It was deeded to the Board

of Education in 1959 for the Future Farmers of

America forestry plot. The school district

received a $50,000 state grant in July to

construct a 40-foot by 80-foot greenhouse. The

timber sale will provide utilities for the

facility with the remainder going toward the

environmental science program.

Three

acres of timber has already been cut at North

Fayette Elementary School for installation of a

septic system to support the school's addition.

According to Fred Oliver, assistant

superintendent, no more trees will be cut. Money

generated from the sale of timber will be used to

build a playground at the school.

<!--

-----------