"We can take down all the trees if we want to."
As might be expected, the subject of AEP tree cutting was a topic at this Tuesday’s Tree and Landscape Commission meeting. An AEP representative, Tom McCray, was asked a question by Village Council’s representative to the committee, Connie Barsky. Council member Barsky asked if AEP would stop tree cutting until after council has a chance to meet with AEP during council’s September 16 meeting. Mr. McCray very emphatically answered "absolutely not." It was shortly after that point that a video camera was pulled out and started.
The video did not capture those earliest, most forceful statements from the AEP representative, but it does convey a feel for the quality of interaction with AEP’s representative in charge of tree cutting in Granville when the subject of potentially excessive tree cutting is raised.
During the discussions AEP representative McCray pulled out a copy of an easement related to providing electric power. Mr. McCray stated that the 50 year easement entered into in 1970 will last for another 30 years. The easement is set to expire in roughly 11 years.
After AEP representative McCray stated he was the person with whom the Village should discuss potential tree cutting and that "We can take down all the trees if we want to. We don’t want to do that," Mr. McCray noticed a video camera. McCray then clarified that he could not speak on such issues, that handling such issues was not part of his job, and that he would not continue with the meeting if video was being taken.
Click here to see the video
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cheap sunglasses
the real safety issue will be the glare from the white lights that will no doubt be slathered all over it in a few weeks…
better get another couple of 4x4’s and another roll of wire cus i’m sure we will have to have the bridge festooned with enough lights that the passing international space station will be able to see it.
another view on the AEP guy
…on the other hand, the guy tells you what he thinks. No bull. His attitude is only a problem because he can’t think wider than his job — and that forces people with a different perspective to be aggressive, too.
But Mr. McRay isn’t giving you a song or dance here. He’s telling you straight-out what he’s going to do — butcher the trees, whether you like it or not.
By contrast, the AEP PR people (scheduled to appear Wednesday before the Village Council) will give a feel-good song and dance about “our shared concerns” — and nothing will change.
Michael Kinsley says a gaffe in Washington is someone inadvertently telling the truth. Mr. McRay’s gaffe was the same. He told the truth — because, from his perspective, his chainsaw massacre is righteous enterprise.
cutting to the point
I respect a no B.S. factual conversation. There did not seem to be much conversing, just an overwhelming amount of hot air. Trees are the enemy. He will take no prisoners. The only good tree is a dead tree… Got it, loud and clear.
This mentality has been fostered by many years of listening to people whine. “Hey, McRay we are wealthy here, we want our trees and our power too.” In his and AEP’s defense I’m certain it is a broken record that just keeps playing over and over and over.
While there are some viable options for the short term listed above, I think this tree/electric conundrum is another example of Granville’s lack of planning, short sightedness and inflexibility.
How about not forcing AEP and their reps to take on a stiff defensive posture from the start by simply not insisting we plant trees that grow to 120’ height under the power lines that are at best say 55’ high?
The electrical grid of the nation has been in the news lately as needing an entire overhaul…
So why doesn’t Granville with all it’s money and wisdom start right here at home? Let’s start by going back to the nearest electrical sub-station outside Granville and replace the existing supply wires with new high efficiency lines. They exist, we should have them. Set a positive example for other communities to follow.
Instead of throwing up road blocks for those that want to be a part of the solution rather the problem by trying alternatives to to conventional methods of supplying power for our consumption we should applaud them and quite possibly offer them tax incentives as well. You spoke of narrow thinking, how narrow is it to not allow solar panels.
As large trees need taken down, replace them with urban friendly trees. Sugar Maples are NOT a good tree to have in an urban setting. They are trashy weak trees that are far better suited to living in the woods. It’s funny how so many people think we need to keep things old school, like the big trees, yet they don’t ride horses rather than drive a huge gas sucking vehicle. Don’t get me wrong i like old things, I have a house full of old stuff, hell I’m old, but things change. I won’t be around forever neither will anyone so why not try to change for the positive, embrace the future and technology.
Drive down Granville Road, I remember when it was planted in corn on both sides that seemed to be 15’ tall. Sure enough time has caught up with Granville Road, while no one was looking someone came in and raped the land. With the nice southern exposure Granville had a great opportunity to show their stuff. There could have been lovely solar houses with nice gardens full of homegrown food. Instead we have it plastered with more big, ugly, pretentious boxes and nondescript offices that add nothing to the community.
Get it right. Plan ahead, don’t live in the past. Set an example future generations and fellow communities can follow. Quit looking at the trees and worry about the forest.
lets start
lets start with cutting the police budject of over 1 million dollars a year in gville
and spend the extra dough on the tree aep problem
that would help
Now I Can See Where The Problem Is
After watching this video, I now see where the problem is. If this is AEP’s way of dealing with issues, we always will have difficulties. This guy will never seek a consensus nor look for a win-win solution. All he wants to do is argue and tell everyone why they are wrong.
We don’t need these personality types in the discussion.
Time for a new story
Please, find a new photo to greet us as we come here. The sight of this bloated egomaniac makes me ill. It looks like it has been quite some time since he has done an honest days work. Go ahead cut the trees down big guy, at the end of the day it will not compensate you for short-comings you have.
How about a story regarding our new bike bridge? I would love to tell you how i feel about that too.
safety
tell us ballus fictious
how bout that saftey issue ?
wow a BIG one
i was told that the village had a
secondary plan for the bridge to go
BEHIND the iga in the 1st place to connect
a MUCH BETTER IDEA
what happened to that ?
what safety issue ????
I would never second guess the wisdom of our shakers and movers here in Granville. NOT…
The new bridge is full of fail. Most “drivers” now days are busy twittering, chatting, emailing, watching one of the flat screen tv’s and catching up on work or personal things, actually operating the vehicle has become a second, third, or fourth concern. Why does it seem like a safety issue to force bike and pedestrian traffic into an unregulated intersection with vehicular traffic in such a busy place? With the options available this was just a complete lack of thought. Are the number of cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians, delivery vehicles etc. going to drop off? I am betting that won’t happen anytime soon. Oh well it’s only tax money right? Just plop in a 300,000.00 bridge over there if it does’t work we will worry about it later.
Why are we building a bridge for bikes anyway? That should have been done when the Main Street storm drains were done and the street was widened to add the much needed turn lane. Oh that’s right, Granville doesn’t need a turn lane, my bad, sorrrry.
Don’t fear BOBMARLEY we are in good hands here in Granville. There must be some good reason to build a bridge THERE that looks strong enough for vehicular traffic, surely it isn’t to carry the occasional bike or pedestrian.
At one time there was talk of taking some rusting hulk of a bridge and placing it back by the driving range, athletic fields. No traffic there but still full of fail. Spending half a million on a pile of rust that is going to be a maintenance nightmare might not be money well spent. But i would be willing to bet we have some of our brightest residents, teachers and gov’t officials seeking federal grant money to do just that so Granville can get our kids away from the very situation Granville created by putting the bridge in the wrong place. And we would be hero’s for “saving” an iconic bridge from being destroyed. Hurray Granville. Now that would be planning.
safety
ITS A HUGE SAFTEY ISSUE
think about it
your driving either in or out
the driveway is WAY TO WIDE AND DEEP
1000 to 1500 a day !
every day ?
good luck with that one
Excellent video
Wow.
Great video. The video really helps in understanding the dynamics involved.
moderate
If you do not moderate the comments to maintain a certain level of quality, you will lose the battle for people’s time. Some bozo calls a guy a whatever. That doesn’t offend me. It wastes my time. And it makes the GP seem like a silly place to be. This type of drivel is far too common in the GP comment section. No publication dominated by unedited blather can survive as anything more than a vehicle for a few hobbyists. Every successful endeavour controls its look, feel and quality. The GP owes it to itself to do the same. The GP is not a commune. It’s an online newspaper, a forum for discussion. Moderate the site.
meanness
the ridiculous meanness of spirit that a handful of posters have ruins the ambience of this site. you should cut them off or moderate all comments. otherwise small-minded stupidity rules the day. there are thousands of internet sites for people to post these types of time-wasting comments. GP should take a road less travelled. a moderated site is a better site.
moderation
This site is moderated. Quite well I think. This site is also quite useful and the new articles are of a high standard. This is all good stuff. Please keep it all.
meanness
Actually I welcome the meanness. Trust me; it will be revealing in due time. No reason to censor here. Let it all play out.
CENSORSHIP
i would agree with that …………..
however …………
CENSORSHIP IS NOT A GOOD THING ………..
Awww
Let’s all just sip our lattes at River Road in proper ambience and discuss the high fallutin’affairs of the grand state of Grahnville.
Pity the little people who simply CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH.
He's Not A....
My 8th Grade Science Teacher.
Deletion
Look in hidden comments for question “science teacher” answers.
i believe its an long time
i believe its
an long time gville resident
don pheneger
Yup
Yup, and he WAS my 8th grade science teacher.
Whos Askin?
Whos Askin?
Main Stream Republicans Like Trees
Main Stream Republicans like their electricity AND their trees. If our tree lined streets are decimated, exactly what do you think that is going to do to our property values?
I voted for Bush, I voted for McCain, and I am voting to save our trees. I hope those on Council, whether Liberal or Conservative, feel the same way.
Take em down
“Amend the easement?”
Sounds like a whiney ex-wife who isn’t pleased with the court approved child custody arrangments. Just whine and go back to court to waste time and money.
If AEP has the desire, every tree could be gone by the weekend. (And given the nutty Grahnville villagers behavior, I’d fire up the chain saws now, if I were AEP.)
How telling (and sadly bizarre) that village nutcase leaders use human terms (massacre) to discuss tree trimming. Human beings are massacred (not inanimate objects like trees).
If villagers would only express the same concern for human life as trees, what a wonderful world it could be.
Logic, Laws and Liberals
When they can’t win the logical or legal argument, liberals turn to emotion expecting the logical and legal side to step aside.
Obviously, AEP holds all the power, so the council member - having little or no authority - must rely on special words (“massacre”) to appeal to the guy with all the power.
No wonder
Small wonder the village is having problems with trees getting massacred.
He was doing everything to try to avoid answering a very reasonable question. Kudos to Barsky for her patience with this guy.
Too late now
Why the sudden interest in this issue? AEP has been here butchering our trees for the past 3 months. It would have been nice if there was some interest in this back in June when the slaughter started.
You haven't seen anything yet...
AEP has barely started what they plan to do.
You haven’t seen anything yet.
However, it is true what has already happened is tragic.
Village staff has been asleep, or intimidated, for all too long on this.
Township, too
They’ve been out butchering in the township, too. Is there a similar easement for that?
Timber!!!
AEP dude looks like he could take down a tree by himself. Don’t mess with the tree czar!
Censors double standard
Hmmmm…
Referring to someone as a czar is acceptable.
Suggesting someone can take a tree out by himself is acceptable.
Picking on an enemy of the GP is acceptable. But don’t even think of making a remark about a villager.
No weenies!
trees
wow
every 5 years or so this same conversation happens about the trees
then it goes away for 5 years and repeats the process
again
fact ……………
granville has all of its trees in or on a gps system
locator
identify the problem trees
remove them
plant trees that only grow 30 feet tall
case closed
get with aep or its contractor and get with a program to bury the lines where needed
dont we pay for this kind of planning ?
or is it more important to fatten the rule book with
other issues eh ?
tree city my rump …………….
Great video!
It’s interesting to hear a corporation speak authentically — my way or the highway — rather than in the velvet tones of public relations people spinning faux concern.