Mayor Leonard Pintell's plan for disposing of fallen, dead trees in Ritts Park on North McKean Street seems acceptable and workable. And, if that tree-disposal effort proves successful, a similar plan should be implemented, if needed, at Memorial Park.

Pintell told the city council that, under his plan, one-day permits would be issued to allow anyone to cut up the trees in question and take the wood for free, as long as the permitted cutters also cleaned the area of limbs and other debris.

The mayor didn't rule out allowing businesses, such as tree services, from being part of the tree-removal effort.

Pintell is correct in supporting the rule that only one permit a day be issued, to avoid confusion and potential danger at the site - such as too many chain saws. The plan, conducted correctly, would benefit not only the city, but also the people who would use or sell the wood.

The mayor plans to refine his proposal and present it to the council again in May for approval. If liability questions and all other legal issues are resolved by that time, the council should clear the way for the plan to be implemented.

Deteriorated or dead trees aren't in the parks' or city government's best interests.