Amy (last name not provided), a committee member, told the Healthwell, Fair and Recreation Committee on Oct. 1 that she has met with county staff and wants the committee’s input on a plan to select and install a locally grown Christmas tree at the courthouse. "I met with Jimmy this week, and we talked a little bit about the Christmas tree," she said. "I thought it would be cool to like at the State Capitol or at the White House. We have a Christmas tree that is grown here in Coffee County."

The committee discussed having a donated tree — cedar, fir or pine — installed by the mayor or municipal equipment ("our mayor, the crane man") and decorated with lights and waterproof ornaments made by local schools. Amy said the tree would be installed at the courthouse by Thanksgiving and remain through December. "Then be up the whole month of December," she said.

The nut graf: The plan is a locally sourced holiday display intended to draw community attendance and tourism; committee members agreed to public outreach, a selection process and a submission deadline to secure a donated tree in time for installation before Thanksgiving.

Committee members agreed on basic next steps and outreach. Amy asked whether the committee should set a minimum size and responded that the group would accept whatever could be donated: "Whatever we can get." She proposed a selection committee and recommended a submission deadline of Oct. 31. Committee members volunteered to help with moving and installation; Amy said she would contact Wilmore Nursery for technical advice and that county staff (Ben and Dennis were suggested) might assist with removal or crane work. She asked staff to prepare a flyer and circulate it for review: "Can I put together a flyer and send it to all of you to look at first?"

On decorations and lighting, the group expressed a preference for traditional (non-LED) lights for a vintage look and emphasized that ornaments must be weatherproof if the display will be outdoors. Amy said schools could submit ornaments ("maybe one per grade") and suggested the tourism budget could cover purchases such as lights. She also noted Manchester City already uses a large artificial tree downtown and that the county tree would likely be placed on the opposite end of the square near the old post office.

The committee set outreach actions rather than taking a formal vote: publish a call for donated trees by Oct. 31, form a small selection committee, explore mechanical removal with county staff, and aim to have the tree installed by Thanksgiving and lit for December. Amy said she would prepare a flyer by the next Friday and post outreach on the county Facebook page and local radio.

The plan remains at the discussion-and-direction stage; no ordinance or budget appropriation was recorded for the tree in this meeting.

The committee also discussed ornament durability and whether to accept artificial versus live trees; the group emphasized practicality and community input rather than strict size minimums. "It doesn't need to be a Charlie Brown tree," one member said, encouraging donations of larger specimens if available.

Ending: The committee left the plan in staff-and-volunteer hands for outreach and logistics; the next steps are public notice by Oct. 31, review of submissions by the selection committee and confirmation of installation timing and equipment with county operations staff.