Trees can provide some much needed shade, but many planted years ago in Jim Thorpe are now causing a problem for borough council.

The trees, planted by Jim Thorpe’s Shade Tree Commission, have grown taller and wider and borough officials are concerned some branches may be impacting the line of sight for motorists.“There are sight problems all over town,” Councilman Jay Miller said. “Trying to get onto North Street is a challenge for me at spots.”In 1993, council adopted the commission’s proposal to plant nearly 60 trees along Broadway and Susquehanna Street.After around 20 years of inactivity, the Shade Tree Commission recently re-formed and is applying for a $5,000 grant that would allow it to trim a few of the trees it planted around town.In addition, council is asking residents with the trees on their property to properly maintain them.“The residents who have these trees are responsible for them,” Councilman John McGuire said. “The problem is many of them haven’t been maintained. There are some spots where you can’t walk down a street without hitting your head.”When the commission planted the trees, it first asked residents or business owners if they wanted one on their property.The property owners then signed an agreement with the borough stipulating the owners would take care of the maintenance. If the property was sold, the tree responsibility transferred to the new owner.“It’s very cut and dry in the ordinance,” Mayor Michael Sofranko said. “The borough can notify the property owner by mail that they need to take care of the tree. If the property owners don’t do it, the borough can do the work and send them the bill. If the property owner doesn’t pay, a lien is put on the property.”The commission, led by resident Ben Walbert, also sought a $5,000 grant for planting additional trees around town.Council did not approve that application, however, stating it would like to see the current trees trimmed and under control before any new plantings.“The buck stops here,” McGuire said. “If the grant doesn’t come through, I really think we have to do something.”