Tree Cutting Article in Star today
September 11, 2008
Neighbors question planned tree trimming Traders Point area worried; IPL, state say utility has the right to cut on private propertyBy Robert Annis robert.annis@indystar.com
Mary Ann Stevens and her neighbors may have received a temporary reprieve from the moment they've been dreading for three years.
For several months, Indianapolis Power & Light Co. told Traders Point residents of an upcoming tree trimming and cutting, but that has been pushed back, likely until next year, because of internal scheduling issues. Residents have questioned the trimming or removal of trees in a 2-mile swath from Lafayette Road to I-465 along 86th Street.
"IPL isn't accustomed to being questioned," Stevens said. "It's a protected monopoly, used to getting its way."
IPL routinely trims trees to keep branches from getting entangled in the power lines. The utility estimates it controls 25 feet around each pole, letting it trim back or cut down any high-growing trees, even if they aren't close to the wires, said IPL spokeswoman Crystal Livers-Powers.
"Tree trimming is an emotional subject for many people," she said. "It's not something we like to do, but we have an obligation to provide power to our customers and keep people safe. When we're doing this type of work, we can't always provide a solution that feels good to both parties."
A trained arborist supervises the work, Livers-Powers said, and homeowners can set up an appointment to discuss the trimming beforehand. The utility listens to complaints, she said, as does the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
IPL has trimmed trees near power lines since Traders Point resident Jerry Baker bought his home in 1981. He said IPL began getting more aggressive in 2005, when IPL contractors marked more than 1,000 trees around power lines to be cut down.
Neighbors negotiated with the electric utility for eight months in 2005 trying to find a compromise when IPL ended talks and began cutting the next day. Shocked neighbors watched as IPL contractors butchered trees, Baker said, and "behaved badly when doing it."
At least one resident, a 64-year-old, was handcuffed and detained by police after she was accused of either shoving or poking an IPL worker in the chest. She was released after about an hour.
The poles often stand so close to the property line that 138,000-volt lines hover above private property, neighbors claim. Because of the lines' location, IPL has trimmed or cut down trees on private property. Neighbors claim IPL shouldn't be allowed to do this without an agreed-upon easement, but IPL has refused to negotiate that point.
"It's a fine line," Baker said. "They think they can do whatever they want just because it's for the public good, but we have our property rights."
The IURC gives utilities the authority to cut trees on private property if needed, Livers-Powers said. IURC spokeswoman Danielle Dravet agreed. "Utilities can go on private property to do trimming, just like they can for meter readings."
Neighbors question planned tree trimming Traders Point area worried; IPL, state say utility has the right to cut on private propertyBy Robert Annis robert.annis@indystar.com
Mary Ann Stevens and her neighbors may have received a temporary reprieve from the moment they've been dreading for three years.
For several months, Indianapolis Power & Light Co. told Traders Point residents of an upcoming tree trimming and cutting, but that has been pushed back, likely until next year, because of internal scheduling issues. Residents have questioned the trimming or removal of trees in a 2-mile swath from Lafayette Road to I-465 along 86th Street.
"IPL isn't accustomed to being questioned," Stevens said. "It's a protected monopoly, used to getting its way."
IPL routinely trims trees to keep branches from getting entangled in the power lines. The utility estimates it controls 25 feet around each pole, letting it trim back or cut down any high-growing trees, even if they aren't close to the wires, said IPL spokeswoman Crystal Livers-Powers.
"Tree trimming is an emotional subject for many people," she said. "It's not something we like to do, but we have an obligation to provide power to our customers and keep people safe. When we're doing this type of work, we can't always provide a solution that feels good to both parties."
A trained arborist supervises the work, Livers-Powers said, and homeowners can set up an appointment to discuss the trimming beforehand. The utility listens to complaints, she said, as does the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
IPL has trimmed trees near power lines since Traders Point resident Jerry Baker bought his home in 1981. He said IPL began getting more aggressive in 2005, when IPL contractors marked more than 1,000 trees around power lines to be cut down.
Neighbors negotiated with the electric utility for eight months in 2005 trying to find a compromise when IPL ended talks and began cutting the next day. Shocked neighbors watched as IPL contractors butchered trees, Baker said, and "behaved badly when doing it."
At least one resident, a 64-year-old, was handcuffed and detained by police after she was accused of either shoving or poking an IPL worker in the chest. She was released after about an hour.
The poles often stand so close to the property line that 138,000-volt lines hover above private property, neighbors claim. Because of the lines' location, IPL has trimmed or cut down trees on private property. Neighbors claim IPL shouldn't be allowed to do this without an agreed-upon easement, but IPL has refused to negotiate that point.
"It's a fine line," Baker said. "They think they can do whatever they want just because it's for the public good, but we have our property rights."
The IURC gives utilities the authority to cut trees on private property if needed, Livers-Powers said. IURC spokeswoman Danielle Dravet agreed. "Utilities can go on private property to do trimming, just like they can for meter readings."
posted by Ross Reller at 10:45 AM
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