City Councilwoman Suetta Scarbrough tonight said she wanted the issue of the avenue holly trees back on the agenda for next Tuesday's regular city council meeting.

There was no discussion on Scarbrough's request during the work session but several players in the issue — the city's Beautification Committee and the Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance — sat in the audience.

Scarbrough based her request on a conversation she had with an N.C. State University urban forester, who told her street trees don't have as long a life expectancy as trees planted out of urban environments.

The holly trees on the avenue were planted in the 1970s, Scarbrough noted in her prepared statement. “Mr. Lawson (Councilman Greg Lawson) was correct when he stated in an earlier meeting that we had already addressed the tree issue. However, at the time, there were two facts we did not have.”

Those facts, she said, included the life expectancy of urban trees and a gift from Kapstone for the money to buy new trees.

Council will meet next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall on Jackson Street.

In other matters tonight council:

Was told by Finance Director MeLinda Hite that new Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance policy the city approved last month will save the city $15,185.

“It's certainly is an excellent rate,” she said. “We couldn't ask for better than what we've got right now.”

Approved the bid of Rightmyer Machine Rentals at $83.54 per ton for the annual street maintenance program.

Public Works Director Richard Parnell said following the meeting some 25 streets are scheduled for maintenance. An earlier estimate was for 21 until the public works director learned the price of asphalt has fallen. The city has budgeted $200,000 for the project.