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City needs long-term plan for lines
Published Thursday, May 1, 2008
Better communication might cut through the forest of aggravation that’s grown out of Entergy’s tree-cutting work in Natchez.
On one side residents — the most vocal of which are downtown residents — are upset when they look up and see their formerly beautiful trees hacked up and cut into strange shapes.
Those residents — and residents in areas not in downtown who are upset over the same issue — have every right to be upset, especially if they received no warning and had no voice in when and how the trees were trimmed.
On the other side, Entergy electrical power company and their subcontractor are trying to do what’s right for the customers — keep power lines clear of tree limbs which can easily knock out power service.
Both sides have good intentions, and we’d have hoped that better communication could have fostered a more cooperative spirit between Entergy’s customers and the company’s desire to keep the juices flowing.
This aggravation and anger occurs almost without fail each time the company comes in and has the tree limbs trimmed from near the power lines.
The ultimate solution to this is simple — but expensive. The City of Natchez needs to begin working with Entergy to get power lines relocated to beneath the ground. Underground utility relocation needs to be in our comprehensive plan.
Sure, it will be expensive.
Sure it will be a pain.
Sure it will take time and cooperation.
But it’s the only way to truly make our neighborhoods — particularly the historic ones that draw tourists — as beautiful as possible.
The beautify canopy of trees overhead may be taken for granted by some people, but they’re nearly as important as the electrical power customers who live, work and pay taxes beneath the shade of those trees, or what’s left of it.
Comments
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very good editorial! I would like to add that these 3rd party companies come in and alot of the times they chop without good "common sense" and some don't understand about forestry and how to do their jobs?This happens all over with various other companies like Central Louisiana Electric Company(CLECO).
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe yall could cut them into some nice shapes....like giraffes or hippo's or something like that instead of u's and y's ....lol...
Nice editorial.
Natchez needs to have long range plans for tree trimming and some things like getting the public educational system up to a level 4 or 5 and trying to attract some industry that could employee average Joe with a decent job...even if the job is cutting trees away from powerlines.....
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmm...I may be wrong, but seems I remember that the trade off between the City and Entergy when the question of allowing the big green poles came up was that the lines in downtown would be put subgrade.
It would be expensive, but would do a world of good for Natchez. It is one of the infrastructure problems that must be faced once the budget is in control and the debt for ego projects are paid off. Don't let Entergy off the hook, but also realize that citizens would have to pay something too.
Can you imagine a downtown without overhead wiring?...ah, beautiful man!
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on May 2, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this type of "pruning" occurs EVERYWHERE. Natchez is hardly unique.
Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on May 2, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You do know what Entergy will have to do if they are forced to take on this project. Are you willing to pay more on your electric bill to pay for all those underground wires? I didn't think so. Just quit planting trees under power lines. They grow up. In the mean time, they do need to do a better job of trimming without butchering.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 2, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Preacher...the point of my last missive was that Entergy, if I'm correctly recalling, agreed to begin a gradual process of converting downtown electric lines to subgrade lines, if they were allowed to supply Natchez with the big green poles.
I may be wrong here, but I don't think that's a bad thing...many other cities have converted to underground services. Sure it cost more, but the long term gains are quite worth it in my opinion.
If the city wants to begin the process they need to pass a ordinance requiring future electrical services to be installed underground. Entergy will follow suit to supply the customers and avoid bad publicity. Many other cities, particularly ones with historical tourism, have done the same.
I've come to think that maybe you just don't want any positive change in Natchez...you're the same guy that railed on religious grounds about the casinos...and never answered my rebuttal.
As for me, I'd rather have the trees overhead than the power lines and poles.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 3, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam..
Many places, including the small town that I live in, have gone to underground utilities. I was so much easier for the Entergy folks after Katrina that all the new neighborhoods and new retail establishments here have them.
It is time to make Entergy catch up in Natchez.
Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on May 4, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam... no, I never mentioned any thing about religion or morals connected with casinos, but you were insistent that we not have any morals in Natchez, or that you did not want any forced on you, so I completely ignored that statement and talked about how that industry hurts families.
Again, I don't know where the confusion is.
I don't think there is a moral issue with the trees either, so please quit bringing it up. I wasn't even answering your comment or anyone elses. Just stating facts. It cost money to upgrade and there are other peices to the puzzle. I agree with you on this one and I sincerely hope they can start the process soon.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 4, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Preacher...no, you never mentioned morals or religion in your post against casinos, but in your anecdotal "evidence" condemning the gaming industry it was clearly evident that you disapproved on both grounds. If you have statistical proof then produce it. Otherwise, don't be putting people's livelyhoods at risk because of your judgements, have you forgotten Matthew 7:1?
I don't have a problem with having morals in Natchez, they're rather good morals comparatively. I have a problem with you trying to foist your's on me and other people who don't see things as you do. You ignored the earlier argument, because you didn't have one you could substantiate and I called you on it.
As for the power lines, the real issue in this particular conversation. There is a moral issue in play here...not yours, but Entergy's. They promised to begin placing services underground, if they were allowed to install the big green poles...they haven't...they were less than honest about it. The upgrade to subgrade services should have been offset by the savings they received for the big green poles. Where am I wrong here folks?
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