Village Manager and AEP Reach Understanding Limiting Tree Cutting

Thanks to the efforts of Village Manager Don Holycross, the Village and AEP have reached an understanding of how Village trees will be cut in coming weeks.  The Village and AEP have agreed that future tree cuts will be no more severe than the cuts in 2003 and 2004. Even though that earlier 2003/2004 tree cutting was harsher than in previous years, the current understanding may help to limit AEP’s recent tree cutting practices that were resulting in the loss of long established, healthy trees.

At its last meeting in December, Village Council asked Manager Holycross to communicate to AEP that Council did not want any harsher tree cutting than that which occurred during the 2003/2004 tree cutting period, unless AEP first identified the specific tree set for harsher tree cutting and received permission from Council.  Following the December Council meeting, Manager Holycross sent a letter to AEP expressing Council’s desires.  On Tuesday, January 5, Manager Holycross and Mollie Prasher met with Ron Winrod, the manager for the electrical distribution systems in the AEP’s Newark District, and with Tim Wells, Manager, AEP Community Affairs.  

Following the meeting with AEP officials, Manager Holycross notified Council members that “AEP is willing to abide by the request of the Council.  If any trees need to be trimmed beyond what was done in 2003-2004, AEP will come to Council with a specific proposal related to those particular trees. The only exception would be where a private property owner has requested additional trimming or the removal of a tree that is on private property.”

This understanding is important because AEP has been using a significantly harsher cutting standard than that set during the 2003/2004 cut.  On South Main Street, AEP cut two mature, healthy oak trees so severely that the trees later had to be removed by the Village.  In other areas along Newark-Granville Road and along the bike path, AEP and Asplundh cut trees down to the ground; trees that previously had survived AEP cuts.  

AEP admits it began cutting trees more aggressively after the year 2000.  That is why the cuts in 2003/2004 were so harsh.  And the 2009/2010 cuts were even harsher than those of 2003/2004. 

At its first Council meeting of the new year on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, Council placed the issue of AEP tree cutting on its 2010 Goals and Objectives List. The goal is to develop a long term plan with AEP and the PUCO allowing Village residents to enjoy both reliable electrical service and tree-lined streets.

AEP expects to begin cutting trees in the historic portion of the Village at the end of March 2010.