I am writing in response to the article, “Power line work causes property damage” (Herald, July 18). I thank Tim Smith for bringing this issue to attention of more people.
Our century old apple tree, far from lines, was mechanically masticated to dirt level. The orders appeared to be “leave nothing standing.” One can view this clearing on the forest service land south of May Day.
LPEA’s spin and propaganda is quite interesting.
There were three property owners with fence and property damage. First actual masticating on this project was apparently begun after 5 p.m. Thursday evening. Fences were visible. One owner’s notification was the track hoe being unloaded onto their property earlier that day. The other two had no notification. Many owners along the line have had no notification.
I have been told Section 3.1 of the LPEA Vegetation Management Guidelines, entering an easement on private property requires prior notice. This, to me, means that it is the responsibility of LPEA to contact landowner and not throw the burden of being notified onto the owner. LPEA assign someone to update your property owner list, maps, and notification process; your system or process is not working.
LPEA, there is no commercial water available there for New Business Development.
On Friday morning LPEA personnel said they were replacing copper lines with larger diameter specular aluminum wire.
They had, with them, a typed easement copy and represented that it covered one property. It had cross throughs and penned in changes added after signing. It did not include all of that subject property.
Jack Scott
Aztec
