Prior Lake American - Earth Day Blog: Do something... Hug a tree… It’s Earth Day - Comments

The power company was likely

Nancy Huddleston — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:28:05 -0500

The power company was likely doing the chopping, not the city -- that's typically how things work. The power company typically maintains the right of way under their lines, which is allowed in the state of Minnesota. I'm not advocating chopping trees, however, I've been a journalist for a long time and covered concerns by residents about just what Joanna observed and that's been the answer given -- the power company has the right to keep landscaping away from power lines. At one time, someone -- could have been the city, a homeowner or business -- looked at that area and thought it needed beautifying and did so with trees that grew too tall. So, please, don't blame the city! What's more, if you all are so concerned about it and you live in Bloomington, call city hall and ask. People forget that city hall is staffed by public servants whose job it is to give you the facts when you call. If I lived in Bloomington, that's what I'd do!

Not sure who planted them.

Tom Schardin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:13:07 -0500

Not sure who planted them. If the city did, and then butchered them like that, it seems to me that would be a waste of mula.

Yes, those are the trees. Do

Joanna Miller — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:18:01 -0500

Yes, those are the trees. Do you think the city of Bloomington planted them?
If we're talking wasted tax dollars, it would seem a little ridiculous to plant trees on road frontages (cost of tree planting) only to have powerlines go up (where else?) along the street. Then, we pay city crews or consultants to chop the tops off of the trees?
It isn't a homeowner who doesn't have a landscaping crew that studies city planning. I should call the city of Bloomington to get the scoop because it's bugging me.
That said, I am all for the beautification of ugly roadways. Lady Bird Johnson had it right:
www.pbs.org/ladybird/shattereddreams/shattereddreams_report.html
I'd love to see some wildflowers or landscaping along Highway 13 in Prior Lake as a more vibrant welcome into the city.

You are talking about the

Tom Schardin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:29:23 -0500

You are talking about the trees just past Dred Scott going east on Old Shakopee Road, right?

The city did a number on those poor trees last year. They butchered them beyound belief.

Those trees definitley need a hug now.

Oops - correction: Arbor Day

Joanna Miller — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:51:16 -0500

Oops - correction: Arbor Day is April 25.

Here are some thoughts on

Savage Guy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:26:18 -0500

Here are some thoughts on the subject. It probably is done, like the article says, because initially the space looks open and available. Unfortunately, it is rather short-sighted.

http://forestry.about.com/od/arboriculture/ss/tree_dont_3.htm

Someone should tell the city

Joanna Miller — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:44:21 -0500

Someone should tell the city of Bloomington it's Arbor Day. On my way to work they were chopping the top parts of trees off because they were growing into power lines. I will never understand why cities plant trees along roads with power lines (right under existing power lines - this isn't after the fact) and then chop the whole top half off so they look stupid. Can someone explain this? Maybe I'm missing something? Why can't they just plant trees to beautify areas where there aren't powerlines? Or plant trees that don't grow as tall?

Earth Day Blog: Do something... Hug a tree… It’s Earth Day

Shawn Hogendorf — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:09:44 -0500

Go ahead, wrap your arms around a tree and give it a great big hug, after all, it’s April 22, also known as Earth Day.

Every year, April 22 marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement that began in 1970.

So here’s a little Earth Day history lesson.