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West, Entergy to discuss tree trimming
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008
Photo by Marcus Frazier
ABC Professional Tree Services employee Maricio Jasso cuts a limb growing too close to power lines on Orleans Street Wednesday.
NATCHEZ — Mayor Phillip West will meet with representatives from Entergy today to discuss tree trimming in downtown Natchez.
West and Entergy Customer Service Manager Stephen Caruthers said they’ve received a high number of phone calls about the trees.
Citizens have said they feel like the trimming is compromising the aesthetics of old and stately trees.
Natchez residents Doug Mauro and Eugenie Cates said the trees are being cut nearly in half, or having large chunks scooped out of the middle leaving “U” or “L” shaped trees.
“It’s such an insult to cut a tree like that and leave it,” Mauro said. “They’re just creating an eyesore.”
Stephen Caruthers, Entergy customer service manager, said the trimmers are doing their jobs in cutting back from the power lines and are aware that downtown trees should be handled with care.
“Entergy is aware that this is the downtown historical area and we want to maintain its beauty,” Caruthers said.
But most importantly, Entergy wants to maintain its services, Caruthers said, and tree limbs can prevent that.
Cates said she fears some of the trees have been cut in a way that makes them unsafe.
“If a big wind comes up those trees are going to fall on homes, people, cars,” she said.
Caruthers said in trimming, safety is certainly taken into consideration.
“If they were cutting a tree and it was a dead tree or a rotten tree or diseased, we wouldn’t be trimming to those specs,” he said. “We would probably be removing the tree or asking the homeowner to remove the tree.”
Cates said perhaps the power lines could be moved underground and then tree trimming would never be an issue.
Caruthers said that would be highly costly to the city.
“The cost of putting (lines) underground is extremely expensive these days,” he said.
“With Natchez downtown being older, it would be a mystery in trying to dig and find what’s under the streets. I don’t see that happening because of the expense of it, and it’s just not practical.”
West’s meeting will include Robert Clarke, the overall supervisor of tree trimming for Entergy, who is driving down from Jackson to take a ride around the city.
West said hopefully some compromises can be made.
“I’m quite sure some of the tree trimmings may be disfiguring (the trees) and we’re concerned about that,” West said. “We want to balance with the aesthetics of the trees, especially the historic area and throughout the city.”
“We’re going to make sure they’re more sensitive with what they do and how they do it.”
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 3:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The butchered trees look awful. But too many times people do not take into consideration the growth habits of a tree when they plant it. I see the wrong types of trees planted under powerlines by private folks all the time. Other trees are planted where they will interfere with the powerline someday in the future once they mature into their natural spread. The same is done by planting trees too close to homes and to each other. The city is expected to have a planner and to do some planning for the future, but a little private planning by the individual homeowners can go a long way in the beautification of the town.
Thanks Mayor West for doing what you can do about this, but my guess is there ain't much available to you. The power companies do not have time or budgets to hire artists, so the work will fall to butchers. Besides, I really do not want to lose power in the next ice storm due to a neighbor's improperly planted tree.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 3:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It wasn't a problem until they got into the historic district. If they would trim every 5-10 years they wouldn't have to butcher the way they have.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 5:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If a tree has to be "U" or "L" cut, they may as well just cut the whole tree down because it's just to ugly to look at. I wonder why the city planted those live oak trees under the powerlines a few years ago on the median in front of Monmouth? It doesn't make sense to plant a tree that will grow hugh under the lines. That's just stupid.
Posted by hopefloats (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In my yard they trimmed the small shade tree that made nice shade for sitting under now theres a large ugly gap and the sun shines on that area all day. They left the large pecan trees that are actually dropping limbs onto the power line. If i were given an option i would have said NO to the trimming..but i wasn't and they didn't clean up all the debris. I think its a plot to increase the electrical bills my removing any shade area we have.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, do you want power after the next wind storm or ice storm? If the answer is yes, continue on with the common sense side of the world and do not complain about the cutting. If your answer is no, then just keep complaining about them cutting the trees away from the powerlines.
I wish all the utility lines in the state were underground, but until that happens, Entergy, Please cut the tree limbs away so I can have power next time we have a storm.
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was told the homeowner could make arrangements to trim the trees on their own property at the home owner's expense. I was also told that the required clearance is 15ft. This info came from the work crew. Entergy needs to explain: how close to power lines, how often are they going to remove limbs, alternatives to the tree trimming. Do these guys have knowledge, training in tree trimming?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, they do not have any training. Entergy just gives them a truck and a chainsaw and tells then to go have a great time......lol.....
Of course they have training. Companies like Entergy have training for everything that their employees do, except how to use the bathroom.
Posted by inocentbystandr (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure you can refuse the trimming, if you agree to maintain the ROW yourself. Then in the future the power goes out because of a problem on your property, you are responsible. Power companies have a 30' ROW for their lines, 15' each side of the central conductor. And their is a reason it is called a Right Of Way. They can do whatever they have too to be able to keep the power on.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The right of way isn't 30', I think in town it is more like 15', or 10'. What ever the old alleys are.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad is right. Private landowners, government agencies and commercial landscapers: All guilty. The new Liberty Road Interchange is an example of decent planning. The trees planted in the US 61 medians through town and just beyond are an example of poor planning. Anything planted under a powerline is really poor planning. I'm fairly certain the powerline came first where the magnolias look like punchbowls alongside Shadow Lane.
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geeze have you seen those trimmings. Like others have already said here they look absolutely horrible. Have you seen the magnolias with the upper main trunk cut completely out over near Duncan park. These guys are making the trees look really funky for their prescious wires.
Posted by Natchez3 (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was told many years ago the men that cut these trees are actually hired by entergy. But that may not be the case today. Who knows.
But OldgrandDad is correct. Home owners plant trees under power lines all the time. I see magnolia trees planted under the power lines downtown. Do these home owners realize that these trees grow as tall as the Empire State Building. If I were neighbors to some of these people I would be most upset every time I lost power because of inproper trees planted near the power lines.
Posted by sodar (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If any of you were around back in the late 70's when they first put up all of those big metal poles through out the town, you will remember how they had to go back and paint them green from the outcry and then later promised that all the power lines would eventually be buried underground. Sounds like they need to complete this promise and leave the trees alone.
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am dealing witht this same problem and NO not ALL have arbor license and yes they still have to notify you of the cut. YOUR RIGHTS ARE you have ten days to contest this notification or your tree will be cut. Every type of tree is different with the cutting. I have been working with entergy and the Co- hired company and so far three have lost their job due to illegal workmanship. But you do have to know my cutting of my trees ard their work was all caught on video and it was not up to specs and the things they did. They did not even clean their mess up they even left that. But the bad thing is it will take years to get my live oaks back the way they were. Boy did they mess with the wrong tree!
Posted by waterbourne (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bury the lines and let Entergy pay for it if thay want to supply power to Natchez!
Posted by phoneman1 (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
people will always complain when something does not look the way they think it should. you do not hear people that are on southwest epa complaining in the county. if i remember right the right off way is 15' each side of the line. i have seen fires caused by not trimming the limbs away from the lines, outages for long periods of time and how many people saw the damage from katrina with trees and limbs on the lines around the state. that is the main reason the trees are getting trimmed so next time there will not be a long outage of power on your street. i have to deal with lines and trees in my line of work, more trees around the poles more times you have fallen lines, broke wires, broke poles. yes buring the power, phone, cable would be nice to have done but to bury the lines people's yards, roads would have to be torn up. you can directional bore the wires but down town where sink holes have come up before you have to consider what damage to the ground structure boring the cable into the ground
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like it is a little late in talking with Entergy if a lot of cutting has already done and from riding downtown and observing? As usual West ia a day late and a $ short! Par for the Course! Sounds like a golf game to him!
Posted by observer (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! is all I can say. What a mess. Don't believe for a minute that Entergy cannot bury the lines underground. All it takes is money, and they have plenty of that.
How many private businesses do you know of which have no competition, can charge whatever they want and have a product everyone has to have. Yet they want to be paid for building a nuclear plant by raising rates before the plant is even started. And where do they decide to build it? In poor old pitiful rural Mississippi where they think people won't be saavy enough to complain. They even send P.R. people around to tout the wonderful advantages of nuclear power, and we're dumb enough to believe them.
Just because Entergy workers are heros when there is a storm doesn't justify their business tactics. Other nationally known historic towns with beautiful old trees manage to have wires underground.
Natchez needs to demand action from our leadership and from Entergy. Some folks will be long gone to glory before the trees recover. Meantime, like the ad showing the old Indian crying as he surveys the damage, all we can do is shed tears.
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what happened to the green poles? they must be misssing since 20 years ago, entergy said that they were just temporary until the lines were buried. carothers is a jerk. and entergy lies.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, lets all move back into tents and huts and we can have all the trees we want. But, if you want to read this on the internet and have lights after sunset tonight, like most of us want to do, then get used to the fact that the powerline Right of Way will be cleared and the trees will be cut.
I want all underground utilities in any area that has township or city status in Mississippi. But that is just my dream. It would save all of us money but that does not seem to matter to anybody right now.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to see all powerlines underground. Or should I say, have all powerlines underground and NOT see them. Not only in towns but everywhere. Perhaps we could start a campaign. Folks get killed by their cars ramming power poles, don't they? Our campaign slogan to put the lines underground would be, "If it saves just one life, just ONE LIFE, isn't it worth it?" Tug at the public heartstrings and paint the power companies as killers of teenagers. That should do the trick.
Honestly, I've never understood how Natchez can be sandwiched in between two nuke plants and then have the power companies tell us our rates will increase due to the price of oil.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If "Historic" Natchez wanted to be true to the time period, there would be no visible power lines downtown. Why hasn't the b.h. mafia done anything about that?
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The time to start reform is now!
1) All new business, subdivisions, etc. should have utilities placed underground.
2) Any tree that is trimmed, in a way that causes an eyesore, should be removed completely, then replanted (offset), anew.
3) As for the huge trees within town, that are growing in tight places, I have no answer.
One question...why can't ROW's be planted with grass, instead of spending all the muscle and spending that is being put into spraying, sawing, trimming, etc.?
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ntzmom55...the b.h. mafia?
Posted by mophus22 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
same ole Natchez, huh? do you want power or do you want "Historic Natchez?" i think we're seeing once again that progress and the history of downtown are getting in each other's way. a choice must be made.......and i'm sure no one down there wants to give up there big screen.
Posted by inocentbystandr (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even underground lines require a ROW. Root systems will have to come up then. What do you think the tree needs more, limbs or roots.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
blue haired.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NtzMom55...hmm, another group to hate that doesn't really exist except in your imagination.
trisuit...at first glance the Liberty Road bridge landscaping is very appealing, but have you noticed how many magnolias are planted and how close they are together? Anyone who has ever seen a full grown magnolia would have to ask why the did what they did...most will have to be culled.
I think that Mayor West must have driving around with a blindfold and a fifth...there are butchered trees all over this town now. The power lines should be moved rather than destroy the massive oaks! I know it costs money, but power lines are replaceable.
"There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.
The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw."
Trees by the band RUSH
Posted by rocketman (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ALL the utility lines are underground in that subdivision behind Parkway Baptist Church! But it's too expensive everyplace else in town?
Posted by mophus22 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey rocketman
i feel what you're saying, but that is an OLD subdivision and it's planners had the good sense to put its utilities underground 30 or more years ago. actually MOVING utilities that are already in place underground is what will cost so much.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sammohon - I loved it! I also like this one:
Took all the trees,
Put 'em in a tree museum.
Charge all the people 25 bucks just to see 'em.
Don't it always seem to go,
You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
They paved paradise, put in a parking lot.
I can understand why they have to trim the trees on the ROW, but don't make it so ugly. And I said from the very first that the trees at the Liberty Rd. bridge and in front of the high school, are way too close. Some of the Crapes going east on Liberty Rd. past the intersection are already dead.Also, I heard that no one has a contract for mowing and weeding around them. It looks bad.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad you enjoyed, but you should give Joni Mitchell some credit for your quote.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right, but actually the verison I was recalling was not hers, but I can't remember who did it. I want to say Amy Grant, but that doesn't seem right either. I guess I'll just go google it like everybody else so I can be totally correct, and maybe even put in footnotes.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, I was right - Amy Grants version is the one I remember hearing, although Joni Mitchell originally wrote it and the title is Big Yellow Taxi. The Counting Crows have also released a version.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like you folks have it figured out. The master plan is to pave everything. Anything that can not be paved will be dammed up. Pavement and water is our future.
I liked the Counting Crows's version best...
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad...surely the original Joni Mitchell version is sacrosanct...LOL...I'm gonna go get that bottle of bourbon for you tomorrow...let you know when the porch is ready.
Posted by tjim97 (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the City didn't rape the Utility Co. with there fees for permits it might just be possible to one day bury some if not most of the utilities. The permits to place Phone cables into the Fed. Court House and the alley were in excess of 7,000.00 dollars for what a piece of paper. Ridiculous. If you do not want your trees butchered you better get them trimmed yourself next go round. Or you could let Natchez run the power for the city as they do across the river. PICK ONE and shut the H3ll up.
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