http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-1000219.mp3
CARTHAGE, IL – Last summer, Carthage residents deluged city hall and Ameren with complaints about the look of trees after they were trimmed to clear power lines.
Ameren hosted a public informational hearing to explain its policies and the law on tree trimming.
Only the mayor and two city council members attended the meeting.
The most common complaint was that trees received deep "V-shaped" cuts that made them look stunted.
Ameren's Community Outreach Co-ordinator Carl Fisher said the Illinois Commerce Commission requires the company to trim trees in an area every four years. The goal is safe and reliable electricity delivery.
He said, "Unfortunately, it's not always esthetically pleasing. But we trim to the arborists' standards. The ICC requires us to have about a 10 foot clearance away from the power lines."
Fisher said most of the trees that are trimmed are on public rights-of-way. He said the company can trim trees on private property if they have grown into the wires. He said trimmers like to inform the property owner before they trim those trees.
Residents also had complaints that debris was left in their yards. Fisher said debris removal is the responsibility of the property owner.
Ameren's Forestry Supervisor Todd Boyer said trees don't need to intrude into power lines.
He said, "I think the biggest mistake would be not getting enough information on the specie of tree that they're planting in proximity with the wire."
Boyer said the choice of a tree is important. He said many problems can be avoided by planting slow-growing trees near power lines. He suggested redbud, dogwood and crabapple trees.