Tree removal, trimming upsets some residents

White River Valley Electric Cooperative's work to keep power line right-of-ways clear has upset some people in Gainesville. WRVEC says they're doing less aggresive cutting than what's allowed by state law.

Three Gainesville residents contacted the Ozark County Times last week complaining about the removal of trees from property at the corner of High and Baker streets.

The property is owned by Jack and Sandra Stone, who live across from the house they are renting to Denice Paul.

Paul said subcontracting crews working for WRVEC took two mature trees out of her front yard, basically with only 24 hours' notice.

"I have no shade at all in my front yard over my porch," Paul said. "When I came home and saw the trees gone, I sat down on the porch and cried."

Paul said a lot of her flowers and shrubs are designated for shady areas. "So they'll probably die," she said.

Trees were being removed and trimmed all over town.

Rod Romine, chief operating officer for WRVEC, said the right-of-way management program began in June 2011. Romine said a letter was sent out to Gainesville customers in May indicating that trimming and cutting would begin later that month.

Jack Stone said he didn't remember seeing a letter from WRVEC and that he was surprised when the crew showed up July 9 and told him they were going to take out the trees the next day.

"I had just spent $500-$600 having trees trimmed this spring," Stone said.

Romine said that Missouri legislators passed legislation in 2009 giving electric suppliers authority to maintain power line right-of-way. He said the law authorizes a removal area of 60 feet around power lines, but WRVEC chooses to restrain cutting whenever possible to 30 feet, or 15 feet on either side of a three-phase power line and 10 feet on either side of a single-phase line.

"As far as I know, there are no exceptions," Romine told the Times. "Any trees within those distances are being removed."

"Well, you can drive around town and see that's not true," said Stone.

Romine confirmed that WRVEC was giving out $50 vouchers to a nursery in the Springfield/Branson area to customers whose trees were removed.

"We gave them the vouchers and asked that they plant smaller vegetation that wouldn't interfere with the power lines," Romine said.

Paul said the vouchers do little to replace the "beautiful, mature trees" that were taken from her front yard. "A big part of the charm of this little town — well, any small town — is the tree-lined streets," Paul said. "Now when you look at our little town there are so many that are gone. It changes the looks of the town."

<p>Some Gainesville residents were upset at the right-of-way tree-trimming and removal being done recently by White River Valley Electric Cooperative.</p>