Marietta tree removed as part of AEP project
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MARIETTA -- Feelings of sadness, anger and confusion are the general consensus of residents along Eighth Street in Marietta after several of the large trees along the street were taken down without warning.
American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio has begun working on its $330 million investment to add a new electricity circuit to provide more reliable service to their customers, meaning trees had to be removed entirely.
"Marietta, Ohio is Tree City? Not on Eighth Street," said resident Linda Reynolds, 64. "The beauty of Eighth Street is now gone. Actually, we've all renamed the street Utility Street at this point."
Several of the white oak trees and sycamore trees have come down in the last week on the street.
"This is part of a larger plan to rebuild and convert several older areas in Marietta," said Paul Prater, manager and external affairs officer for AEP. "This part of the project is approximately $75,000 plus whatever the tree trimming costs."
The $330 million investment will cover additional parts of Washington County as well as moving into Noble County and Monroe County.
"We really hate to lose those large trees but we couldn't find a compromise with AEP. Their plan was already designed and it would cost too much money for them to change it," said Rhea Bockhurst, Marietta Tree Commission member. "Their plan does involve removing the stumps of those trees so we can plant smaller trees."
Prater said that once the trees and stumps are gone, AEP will provide the tree commission with money to replace the lost trees, which ranged in age from 30 to 70 years old.
"We don't like to plant smaller trees if we have room for big. We tried to ask AEP to change their design but it was just too much," said Bockhurst.
Roger Kalter, tree commission and city council member, said this is a tragic situation.
"I believe the large sycamore tree on the corner of Eighth and Warren streets could have just lost a few limbs and been fine," he said. "They're trying to modernize our electric but the oak trees and maple trees are taking the fall."
Acting Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher said his problem with the project was that the residents of the neighborhood were given no warning.
"It was poor planning and execution on both parts with no empathy on the neighborhood," he said. "I didn't get involved until yesterday and tried to stop the cutting of the last sycamore but by the time I stepped in, the tree had already been through a lot. At that time, AEP was footing the bill and if the tree would to remain standing, it would become a liability on the city."
Schlicher mentioned that AEP has began working on tree removal on Cisler Drive, Seventh Street and Washington Street for the same project.
"I looked at their permits for the project and they filed them two years ago," said Schlicher. "This is all just part of their major project to upgrade the electricity."
The new utility poles are roughly three feet higher than the older ones making the power lines higher off the ground.
"We are adding an additional circuit to enhance the reliability of electricity as that is our No. 1 goal," said Prater. "I can emphasize with the residents. It's sad to be taking down all those trees but we had no other option. We want to keep the lights on."
According to Prater, with this new circuit, if a power line goes down, they'll be able to tie that line in with another to get electricity back faster.
"AEP has put over half a billion dollars statewide doing this exact thing," he said.
Marietta City Councilman Steve Thomas, D-3rd Ward, oversees that area of the city. He said several residents have come and shared stories with him about the effect.
"Even being a councilman, I have to side with the residents of Eighth Street," he said. "There is wood piled all up and down a street that was once a beautiful brick street with large trees lining it. There's been a lot of discussion with the residents and this situation is very disheartening to see the trees gone."
Thomas said unfortunately there isn't anything the city can do with AEP having the right of way permits. Eighth Street resident Alan Summersville, 57, said the only silver lining is that there's fire wood available.
"That doesn't take away from the fact that these trees are all gone," he said. "When we first moved into our home, my son climbed all the way to the top of the white oak that once stood here and now it's gone. It's just really, really sad."
Amanda Vonkennell, 60, also lives on Eighth Street and said she is upset to see this historic part of her street go away.
"Part of the reason people visit here is the trees. What's going to happen whenever the sun is beating down on our houses? There's no shade on this street anymore," she said. "The general beauty of a historical road is gone and they're going to do this all over our town."
The project isn't suspected to be complete for another seven years in its entirety. Prater said Tuesday he didn't know which other areas of Marietta might be affected.
"People want a brick street with trees, not utility poles," said Reynolds.