Dallas-area residents angered by utility's tree trimming, but have few options
By Jay Parsons, The Dallas Morning News -- July 10
Bridget Stedman was shocked when she walked outside her Lake Highlands home and saw the large pile of tree branches lying on the side of her lawn. She marched over to the tree-trimming crew and demanded they put down their saws.
Across Dallas, similar scenes are being played out as many homeowners react
angrily to the work of hundreds of crews deployed by TXU Electric Delivery in
recent weeks to trim back thousands of trees growing around its power lines.
But residents such as Ms. Stedman have discovered that they have little
recourse if they don't like the way crews are pruning their trees.
They can stop the cutting temporarily by signing a protest form provided by
the crews. A certified arborist then is dispatched to explain the reason for the
cuts.
Even if the homeowner disagrees with the need to prune, TXU Electric has wide
discretion in how it trims vegetation extending into utility easements.
And safety always trumps aesthetics, TXU spokeswoman Gailee Cardwell said.
"We try to balance the concerns of homeowners with the responsibility
that falls on our shoulders, and that is delivering power safely and reliably,
which people have come to expect," Ms. Cardwell said.
She pointed out that the National Arbor Day Foundation has honored TXU four
years in a row for pruning practices that protect trees. But homeowners said
this year's cuts are far more drastic than trimming in past years.
Earlier this week, Ms. Stedman complained to foreman Greg Barrera about how
his crew had trimmed her oak tree.
"I was told the shape of the tree isn't going to change," Ms.
Stedman said. "I was told you would cut 4 to 6 feet from the line."
"I mean, the shape of the tree is always going to change," Mr.
Barrera told her.
"This is a major change," Ms. Stedman replied. "This is
ridiculous. Isn't that crazy? Half the tree is gone."
Later, she said she regretted having to leave the task of cutting her trees
to crews hired by TXU.
"If I would have known they were going to mutilate the tree, I would
have hired a professional to shape the tree," she said.
But state law says that only professionals authorized by the local utility
are allowed to prune or remove trees within 10 feet of power lines.
Don Elder, who lives in north Oak Cliff, said a neighbor halted crews earlier
this week as they were about to start pruning both men's trees. He said he was
dreading his own encounter with the tree cutters.
"The sad part about it is I don't know any course of action that a
homeowner can take," Mr. Elder said.
"I understand the need for it," he added. "It's the method and
the results that are far and away past what they should be."
As evidence, he pointed across the street at a 50-foot pecan tree that had
been cut in half lengthwise.
"It was symmetrical and now it's not symmetrical," Mr. Elder said.
"It looked like a tree before."
Mr. Elder called to schedule an appointment with a TXU tree-trimming
contractor after he found a notice on his door earlier this week.
"I told him not to cut anything until he shows me what's he going to do
because I've seen what they've done down the street, and I'm not having
it," he said.
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