Letters

Search Results

Close Previous Now showing: of Next

Previous Next Close

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

August 29, 2010

Reader's Forum: Episode raises awareness about treatment of trees

Anonymous ---- The Tribune Star Sun Aug 29, 2010, 05:00 AM EDT

This past weekend, illegal tree trimming and topping took place in six of the city-owned planter boxes at Sixth and Wabash in downtown Terre Haute. The work was ordered by local attorney Mike Ellis, who recently purchased the former Rogers Jewelers building at the northwest corner of that intersection.

The work began on Saturday, but it was interrupted by the mayor’s Director of Public Affairs, Darrel Zeck. Darrel noticed that the street and sidewalk were both being blocked by the people doing the cutting, and he stopped to urge them to manage the site in a way that allowed the public to better-navigate the area. Eventually, city police were called, and a warning was issued to the unlicensed workers. They stopped cutting, cleaned up the limbs and left, but permanent damage had already been done to both trees on the Sixth Street side of Rogers Jewelers.

Those of us who were aware of the episode on Saturday were relieved that the damage done by these obviously untrained workers had been limited to just two trees. But the same people returned the next day.

When I arrived on the scene Sunday morning, the sidewalks at that intersection were chest-deep in downed limbs. The same worker with the chain saw was feverishly hacking on two trees along the Wabash Avenue side of Rogers Jewelers, and the scope of his work had been expanded to include four trees at the southwest corner of the intersection. When questioned, he insisted that only Mike Ellis could speak to what he was doing.

I called Mike and was told that he had again ordered the work, and that the cutting would go on until he decided it was done. I informed Mike Ellis that the police had already been called again, and that I would do my best to bring media attention to the situation. Both local television stations sent out reporters and cameramen, as did the Tribune-Star. Mike and Kal Ellis also came.

When the cameras started rolling, Mike began his presentation by demanding a “thank you” from me for the tree work that he was taking into his own hands at Sixth and Wabash. There is no way for me to thank Mike Ellis without being sarcastic and unpleasant. And I don’t wish to be either — Mike is my neighbor, and we share a common interest in seeing downtown Terre Haute continue to improve. But the truth is, in my opinion, that Mike disobeyed the law because he failed to get permission to do work on city trees through our City Forester; failed to obtain a permit for work in a city right-of-way; failed to get a permit to block city sidewalks and streets; failed to hire a person who is licensed, bonded, insured and trained to properly trim trees; and failed to follow instructions from the Terre Haute police to stop the work.

I hope that anyone who wonders what all of this consternation is about will come downtown and look at the trees around Rogers Jewelers — they were butchered, and the damage would have been more severe if the untrained worker with the chain saw had not been stopped on both Saturday and Sunday.

Terre Haute has had a Street Tree Ordinance in place for over a decade now. City Forester Bill Kincius and his predecessors, along with volunteers from TREES, Inc., have worked hard to educate citizens about not topping trees and the value of maintaining a healthy street tree canopy. Terre Haute has been recognized as a Tree City USA every year since 1999 for our progressive approach to caring for our urban forest.

I urge all citizens to comply with our Street Tree Ordinance when they want to trim or remove trees in tree rows or on other city-owned property. Please contact Bill Kincius at 244-4949 with your questions about maintaining trees in your tree row or on other city-owned property. Bill will assess the condition of the tree, instruct you on how and where to obtain a permit, and provide information on tree contractors who are licensed, bonded, insured, and trained to properly trim trees on city-owned property. If the tree is a safety hazard, Bill can help get it removed.

I sincerely hope this episode will result in more citizens becoming aware of the steps that everyone needs to take before altering any trees on city-owned property. If you have questions or concerns about this well-established part of our City Code, please feel free to contact me at (812) 232-2595. I will help you find answers, and guide you to the dedicated workers in city government who manage and protect our urban forest every day.

— Todd Nation

City Council, 4th District

Terre Haute

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Letters

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 14, 2012

  • Free us from 'Republicanism'

  • Eagles take pride in group’s work

  • Be careful what you strive for

   

  February 14, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 12, 2012

  • White’s opponent entitled to office

  • Positive moves for healthy foods

  • Thanks from the Super Bowl XLVI Host Committee

  • Doctor’s diet plan helps her arthritis

  • Great support for fundraiser

  • A few thoughts moving forward

  February 12, 2012  

• READER'S FORUM: Feb. 11, 2012

  • Controlling crows everyone’s job

  • Strong plan needed to fight Alzheimer’s

  February 11, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 10, 2012

  • How about a parade for war veterans?
  
  • Rubber reptiles will chase off crows
   

  February 10, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 9, 2012

  • Award proves art teacher’s special

  • Technicality hits cancer patient

  February 9, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 8, 2012

  • City engineer sets high standard

  • More than paper to protect rights

  February 8, 2012  

• Readers' Forum: Feb. 7, 2012

  • Kodak moment for America?

  • Let’s not bring back serfdom

  • IU-Purdue game a nice diversion

  February 7, 2012  

• READERS FORUM: Feb. 5, 2012

  • Why does Howey keep attacking Mourdock?

  • Thanks for the commitment

  • Accurate view of pipeline issue

  • Oil pipeline is a pipe dream

  • Not all workers belong to unions

  • Unions protect working people

  • Terre Haute Zoning issue unites neighbors

  February 5, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 4, 2012

  • Defending Bain, attacking Harrop, praising Romney

  • Break a CFL? No reason to panic

  • GOP’s timing not so super

  February 4, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 3, 2012

  • Keep pressure on the Pentagon

  • Supportive words for Jim Mann
   

  February 3, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 2, 2012

  • There are reasons unions are needed

  • Why so hard to get a tow here?

  February 2, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Feb. 1, 2012

  • Better options for Deming Park area

  • Tuskegee Airmen had local member

  February 1, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 31, 2012

  • Science from the heavens
  • Unions exist to aid the worker
   

  January 31, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 30, 2012

  • Right-to-work bill hurts state’s workers

  January 30, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 29, 2012

  • Obama wrong on recess appointments

  • Thanks for honoring ‘Soup’ at his passing

  • Mercury more danger than coal emission?

  • Beware employers who cut corners

  • All beliefs need to be respected

  • People’s decency becomes evident

  January 29, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 28, 2012

  • Don’t muzzle North’s ‘Woelf Pack’

  • The true legacy of coach Paterno

  • Bullet holes suggest dangerous gun use

  • Union coercion in right-to-work issue

  January 28, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 27, 2012

  • Labor bill would divide unions
  
  • GOP sure to retain Statehouse control
  
  • Internet lies about liberalism and more
  
  • National debt backs job growth numbers
  
   

  January 27, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 26, 2012

  • Right-to-work law wrong for workers

  • Put labor law on the ballot

  January 26, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 24, 2012

  • Super Bowl raises parking, gas prices
  
  • Obama should OK energy job issue
  
   

  January 24, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 23, 2012

  • Keystone pipeline is needed now

  • Great seasons for South Vigo sports

  January 23, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 22, 2012

  • Distorted view of mine’s practices

  • Planning is necessary to ensure free market

  • Bring back one-class tourney

  • Wonderful book for a great cause

  • Liberals no longer hold moral ground

  • Another great holiday tourney

  • A few things to think about

  January 22, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 21, 2012

  • Protect our kids from mercury

  • Older drivers have safety opportunity

  January 21, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 20, 2012

  • Workers should pay fair share
   

  January 20, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 19, 2012

  • Two sides to labor issue

  • Learn more about right-to-work law

  January 19, 2012  

• READERS’ FORUM: Jan. 18, 2012

  • Facts show labor bill is bad idea

  • Rural road needs more attention

  January 18, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 17, 2012

  • Embracing those liberal definitions
  
  • People responded to help after mishap
   

  January 17, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 15, 2012

  • Breaking unions and middle class

  • Union dues have favorable results

  • Labor law hasn’t hurt fed workers

  • Labor bill mean and destructive

  • Indiana’s friendly business confines

  • Ideal spot for new housing

  • Americans need some motivation

  January 15, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 14, 2011

  • Solutions lie in compromise

  January 14, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 13, 2012

  • Great stories to warm your heart
   

  January 13, 2012  

• READERS' FORUM: Jan. 12, 2012

  Interference? No.
  Opportunity? Yes

  January 12, 2012  

• More Letters Headlines

© 2012 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. · CNHI Classified Advertising Network · CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2012. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope. Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
Privacy Policy | AP News Registry privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
Advertiser Index

Events by eviesays.com

News From Terre Haute, Indiana 222 S 7th St Terre Haute, IN 47807