<font size=2 face="sans-serif">Hi Brad,</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I guess nuisance trees mean a lot of
different things to a lot of different people depending on what side of
the fence they're on.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I define nuisance trees as trees that
customers deem to be interfering in their life for whatever reason but
ones that they have no desire to pay anything toward mitigation measures
such pruning or removal. Perhaps they can be better defined as nuisance
customer with trees issues (let the flaming begin).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Many times these trees are neighbours
trees that are perceived as causing issues. They can also be (in
my case) trees along easements or back lanes that are not on private property
but more often or not, City owned property and may or may not be growing
somewhere near an overhead wire which may or may not be energized. When
I do receive these service requests, I always try to assess the tree for
actual hazards and how it may or may not be causing real concerns but I
also try to protect as many of these trees as possible whenever I can.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I've found that the easiest and
most effective method in dealing with these trees and the customer complaints
(when the tree is not actually an issue) is to put the financial onus back
onto the client. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">If the tree is in proximity to an energized
source, I'll prune or make the tree safe for removal but leave all of the
debris for the homeowner to deal with at their cost or tell the homeowner
that the tree is far enough from an the overhead power line to be dealt
with by a competent contractor (I even provide them with names of contractors)
which again is all at their expense. I will also work with a customers
contractor to provide an outage if the impact is practical but the cost
of the contractor is the customers.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">It's amazing how many tree "issues"
disappear when the mitigation costs are not covered by the municipality,
utility, neighbour or someone else.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I realize that this response is likely
not what you expected and that it most likely would only work for someone
in my position and perhaps not suitable for a Municipal Urban Forester
who has to be more politically adept than I but it does work.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">We remove or prune many more trees in
the course of the year and get an unbelievable number of irrational requests
for free tree service and this method has greatly reduced a large number
of what the utility would have responded to rather than focusing on work
that was actually beneficial. Quite frankly it greatly bothers me the great
number of private trees get removed for irrational reasons when you look
at the bigger picture outside of the municipally owned urban forest and
this is my little way of trying to stem the tide.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Cheers</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
Mike Dixon R.P.F<br>
MTCU Certified Utility Arborist<br>
Forestry Coordinator<br>
Thunder Bay Hydro<br>
(807) 343-1040<br>
(807 251-5774<br>
MDixon@tbhydro.on.ca<br>
<br>
It's OK to print this email.<br>
Paper comes from a biodegradable, recyclable, renewable resource - trees.
Making forest products from sustainably managed forests results in jobs
for thousands of people, clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and carbon
storage.</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=1 color=#5f5f5f face="sans-serif">From:
</font><font size=1 face="sans-serif">"Hennessy, John"
<John.Hennessy@brampton.ca></font>
<br><font size=1 color=#5f5f5f face="sans-serif">To:
</font><font size=1 face="sans-serif">'Canadian Urban Forest
Network' <canufnet@list.web.net></font>
<br><font size=1 color=#5f5f5f face="sans-serif">Date:
</font><font size=1 face="sans-serif">03/04/2012 08:47 PM</font>
<br><font size=1 color=#5f5f5f face="sans-serif">Subject:
</font><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Re: [CANUFNET]
defining nuisance trees</font>
<br>
<hr noshade>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri">Hey Brad,</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri">Can it be pruned to address
concern? I use this as middle ground when possible. Pruning can address
some of the concern, while information, and future intentions can
also be used to help address. </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri">I would define a nuisance
tree based on, given circumstances for a particular situation, as a “tree
that has an undesired outcome”. A nuisance tree, is a nuisance
when we don’t have the right conversation at the right time. If you have
a forestry master plan the answer is tucked inside somewhere! If you do
not have one, this can be an opportunity to figure out a general direction
your community wants to take with regards to weather trees are a nuisance,
or just undervalued and misunderstood. If I one tree can be deemed a “nuisance”
there is potential for them all to be called a nuisance in some consideration.
</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri">An inspector would visit
site, make a professional opinion addressing any potential urban forestry
conflict. Anyone who disagrees would take issue up with mgt. team. The
decision is usually rather arbitrary, based on a decibel level expressed
by residents despite urban forestry efforts to educate. The tree should
be protected, as there is no fee/tax to replace removed “nuisance” trees.
Hope there is something helpful in there for you.</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri">John </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#004080 face="Calibri"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> canufnet-bounces@list.web.net
[</font><a href="mailto:canufnet-bounces@list.web.net"><font size=2 face="Tahoma">mailto:canufnet-bounces@list.web.net</font></a><font size=2 face="Tahoma">]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brad Doff<b><br>
Sent:</b> 2012/03/30 1:05 PM<b><br>
To:</b> canufnet@list.web.net<b><br>
Subject:</b> [CANUFNET] defining nuisance trees</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">I'm looking for examples of what
other municipalities consider a 'nuisance tree'. If you have a moment to
send me a working or formal definition your municipality uses that would
be helpful. <br>
<br>
Also how does your municipality process a nuisance tree request? If the
tree does not pose a risk to people or property (hazard) how do you process
these requests? Do you refuse the request (and remove the tree only if
it's a hazard) or do you use another form of objective/subjective filter?
If it is removed, based on a homeowner's request, is there a fee associated
with the removal/replacement? <br>
<br>
Many thanks for any details you can provide.<br>
<br>
Brad<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><font size=3 color=#8f8f8f face="Times New Roman"><br>
-- <br>
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