One last update on the tree, and then I'm done until spring

[Blue_In_AK]

(on this subject at least :evilgrin: ) I have drafted the letter of agreement between us, the utility company and the tree service as everyone here (including me) thought I should. My husband just talked to the utility guy about signing the letter so there would be no confusion about what gets done and when. He said there was no problem with that and that he and the owner of the tree service would be here Tuesday to sign. He said both of them had been extremely angry and upset about what had happened and that the foreman on our job had been fired. He said right now our situation is #1 on their agenda here in the city and that he could assure us that our little corner will be better and more beautiful than we could have ever expected. He also said that our whole block is going to get some special beautifying attention, so they may be planning to put in some more trees or flowering shrubs along the street-parallel easement line.

We just now talked to the tree service owner, who is also agreeable to signing my letter, so I e-mailed it to him for his review. It's obvious both of these men feel very terrible about what happened.

I am pleased with the fact that these guys have taken full responsibility and are trying to make it right. Perhaps in the long run this will all be a blessing.

Again, thank you all so much for your support. The depth of your caring was so much more than I imagined. :hug: :loveya:


Original thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2178092&mesg_id=2178092

Original update thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2192456&mesg_id=2192456

[pnwmom]

1. Wow! Though nothing will make up for that beautiful tree,

I hope these people continue to be as cooperative and helpful as they have been so far.

Let us know how it works out, okay?

[mike_c]

2. I didn't comment in the earlier threads but I must say...

...that I'm shocked any arborist would do what was done to your tree. It was obviously ruined. Was the crew completely unskilled labor or something? It's hard to imagine that anyone with even a shred of arborist skill would "trim" a tree like yours was trimmed-- what they did to your tree was cut it down, messily, and nothing less.

Glad it all worked out to your satisfaction in the end!

[Blue_In_AK]

5. The utility company's arbor guy

said that for some reason there was practically a whole generation where no one was learning how to trim trees so that now there are old arborists who are retired or getting ready to retire and then a bunch of young guys who haven't been properly trained. In other words, it's been very, very hard to find skilled workers.

It sounds like it might be a good field for young people to explore.

[Sherman A1]

13. We have a missing generation in my industry as well

harkens back to the era of Ronald Reagan and the choices made within the industry then. Two & three tiered wage scales, etc, I am not surprised that other industries have the same issues.

Hope all works out with the tree(s). This was a simply inexcusable situation.

[roguevalley]

19. I agree. I think most people love trees but some haven't a clue

I am glad for you, Blue

[RKP5637]

3. Thanks for posting this update!!! n/t

[Arctic Dave]

4. They fired the foreman?

You should have blamed it on Sullivan. :D

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Yeah, if only.

:rofl:

[blue_roses_lib]

26. +1

:D

[lunatica]

6. Like I said before, I know you'll work your magic

[madfloridian]

7. Still following all your updates.

And I am still angry for you. So glad you publicized it and pushed for a good solution.

:hi:

[pipi_k]

9. What's better than getting your own tree?

A whole neighborhood getting trees!

While I'm sad that your poor old tree will never beautify your yard again, I'm really glad that the people responsible are taking appropriate action on this.

:)

[Blue_In_AK]

11. I KNOW.

I feel like a "community activist." :)

[trumad]

10. Glad to see they're being good people about it.

[intheflow]

12. Wow!

Can't believe they fired the foreman, but even looking at the photo of the "pruned" tree they guy in the background looks like he knew they'd fucked up. I'm so glad this is all working out for you, that they're being so cooperative and accommodating. This kind of community might convince me to move up there one of these days. :hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Well, yeah, there could be little doubt that they knew we were pissed.

You know me, ITF, probably better than anyone else here at DU. You know I'm generally a pretty gentle and calm person, but I have to tell you I jumped out of the truck cussing like a sailor in a very loud voice that probably everyone in the neighborhood could hear, i.e., "You emeffers (only that's not what I said), what the FUCK did you do???!!" I know I shocked Jim. He's seen me mad before, but I don't think he's ever seen me like that in the almost 50 years that we've known each other. After screaming at them for a while, I went in and got the camera and took the pictures, so when the guy was looking over his shoulder, he certainly knew the score.

My guess is they thought they could do the damage and boogy out of here before we got back. I'm so glad we caught them in the act.

[Greybnk48]

14. Glad to hear this!

I've been following your story and I also find it very traumatic when we lose a tree in our yard or neighborhood. We lost a 40 year old Ash to ash borers two years ago. But what they did to your tree was akin to an assault and I'm happy that other people are seeing it that way. You'll have to post pics in the Spring when you have your new landscaping!

[Mira]

15. I was so physically sickened that I could not say anything - since you and I -

almost - know each other as fellow photographers. I saw you got lots of attention, and sympathy, and empathy, and Mitgefühl (the opposite of Schadenfreude) and I paid very close attention to the path you took in getting some satisfaction.

I'm so glad there is a good outcome in sight, that you worked to get it, and are making sure it happens.

:abigthumbsup:

Congratulations on a tolerable outcome.

[apocalypsehow]

16. Kick & Rec. n/t.

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. Yay! I'm so happy this is working out for you!

I can't wait to see what they plant. I love trees. :)

[emcguffie]

20. I can't help but wonder, though --

Did anyone have any idea why it happened? Particularly since the owner of the tree service didn't approve of what his employees did? Did he have any idea why they did it?

I'm watching the show here in NJ. I hope it doesn't do too much damage to our trees.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. No clear answer

other than inexperience on the part of the cutter and inattention by the foreman. That's why he's gone.

[ohheckyeah]

22. I'm so glad you are getting

some kind of satisfaction. Nothing can ever replace that beautiful old tree but at least they are trying. My brother-in-law is an arborist but lost his small company when he fell out of a tree and broke his hip. He was tied off in two places and BOTH limbs broke.

I love trees. I guess you could say I'm a tree hugger. :-)

[yardwork]

23. Glad to hear that this is working out. Good for you to stand up and insist.

[DCKit]

24. We like trees babycakes. nt

[Tsiyu]

25. It;s good to have some good news here

So glad they are making this right.

Your post reminded me that a neighbor hired someone to cut a tree last year that he was afraid might fall on my property. I asked him to please spare a giant elderberry if he could. Of course, the tree fell right on the elderberry.

I cried for a week - that plant provides flowers, shade and medicine.

But it came back this spring and hopefully will grow to its former lofty heights. In this case, there was no place else safe to fell the tree. In your case it was pure amateur hour with a saw...totally preventable death of a fine specimen.

Hope your street gets lots of awesome new trees.