CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- Residents in Centerville, Iowa are still upset after one man took down numerous trees in the city park.

“It was senseless in that it happened in broad daylight in front of everybody but most people thought that it was being done through the city, and it really wasn’t,” said Centerville city councilman Ron Lind. 

City officials say Terry Leon Crow asked to clear brush and limbs near the Frisbee golf course

 “We’d given him permission to do that with the caveat that he was supposed to call us on a daily basis every time he went down there to work,” said Kim Crego, Centerville city clerk.

Instead of clearing brush, Crow cleared out rows of mature trees.  Now he’s being charged with defacing public property.  In all, 20 trees were taken down.  Some trees were 100-years-old and city officials estimate a loss of $30,000 to $45,000. 

Councilman Rob Lind owns a greenhouse in town says he’ll see what needs to be done.

 “If we do replace, and we will have to figure those areas that would be more appropriate for trees.” 

In the future, the city hopes more residents come forward if they sense something’s not right.

“All it would take would have been someone going to the park and asking that individual does he have permission to do this.”