[Trees-executive] RE: [Trees] Update on IPCUTSOT

[Mary C. Schlembach]

John, Gretchen:

When we last met with Peter Millburg at Kyra's house, Peter told us that IP
customers who are sent letters regarding upcoming tree trimming are welcome
to call and arrange a time that the Line Clearance Administrator and the
tree contractor would come out and discuss what their intentions are and
work together to come to an agreement with the homeowner.  Can this become
public knowledge?  Yes, this may help IP "win" some good PR for a change,
but it would be a good start for customers to become more educated on what
IP is doing and the routes to go to complain.  Personally, I'd like to see
the agreements put into writing before ANY trimming is done.

-m

Mary C. Schlembach
Asst. Engineering Librarian for Digital Services
154 Grainger Engineering Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1301 W. Springfield Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
217.333.3158
FAX 217.244.7764
schlemba at uiuc.edu

  -----Original Message-----
  From: trees-admin at lists.groogroo.com
[mailto:trees-admin at lists.groogroo.com]On Behalf Of Gretchen E. Knapp
  Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 9:16 AM
  To: geknapp at davesworld.net
  Subject: [Trees] Update on IPCUTSOT


  Howdy Concerned Citizens!

          For those of you who have been enjoying summer vacations, here is
a brief synopsis of IPCUTSOT activities to date:

          Illinois Power Customers United to Save Our Trees (IPCUTSOT) -- a
brief history

  Summer 2000 --Utility Tree-Trimming Bill SB 1541 (Maitland/Rutherford) was
signed into law as PA. 91-0902.  This law was written to do what HB 1776
(Rutherford/Brady et al) does; however, there has been dispute over whether
a municipal ordinance would override a filed and approved tariff.

  12/2000 -- Illinois Power files a vegetation management tariff with the
Illinois Commerce Commission.  Illinois citizens react strongly, and the ICC
receives the largest amount of mail, phone calls, and e-mail in its history.

  2/2001 -- IPCUTSOT forms in Champaign-Urbana under the leadership of Laura
Huth, director of the Illinois Student Environmental Network (ISEN).  ISEN,
a non-profit organization, becomes IPCUTSOT's fiscal agent.  IPCUTSOT holds
public meetings, distributes informational leaflets, issues press releases,
circulates petitions, and raises funds to retain an attorney.  Citizens can
be represented before the ICC only through an attorney.  IPCUTSOT files to
be an "intervenor" (legally recognized voice in this ICC action) against the
IP tariff.

  2/2001 -- IPCUTSOT representatives hold a public meeting in Normal Public
Library.  Six B-N citizens create the B-N "chapter" of IPCUTSOT.  They
distribute informational leaflets, issue press releases, circulate
petitions, and raise funds through selling yellow ribbons and "Save Our
Trees" buttons.  IPCUTSOT puts up a website, a listserv, and, for B-N, an
email newsletter.  The town of Normal had won a lawsuit and appeal against
IP concerning tree-trimming.  ICC held a hearing in B-N in 1996 over
tree-trimming.

  2/2001 -- The ICC announces that, due to public outcry, six public
informal hearings will be held across the state.  The first is in Urbana at
the Urbana City Hall.  Members from the C-U and B-N groups attend and speak
at the hearing.
          Rep. Rutherford quietly begins to facilitate meetings between the
utilities and the other intervenors in this filing.  Intervenors include a
municipalities group of  12+ cities, counties, and towns from Chicago to
Edwardsville, including Champaign, Urbana, Bloomington, Normal, and the
Illinois Municipal Association.  The Citizens Utility Board is an
intervenor, as are other utility companies, such as Commonwealth Edison and
Ameren CIPS.  All intervenors are invited except IPCUTSOT.
          IPCUTSOT begins to work closely with city, town, and county board
representatives.

  3/2001 --  IPCUTSOT rallies citizens and begins a "yellow ribbon campaign"
in B-N.  The campuses of Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State
University, and Heartland Community College display trees tied with yellow
ribbons.  In C-U, a "green ribbon campaign" continues as a fundraiser.
          The Mclean County Board is preparing to vote on joining the
municipalities group to oppose the tariff when Illinois Power announces that
it is withdrawing the tariff.  All ICC hearings are cancelled, including the
one scheduled for Bloomington-Normal.

  4/2001 -- After a letter-writing campaign, the IPCUTSOT attorney is
(finally!) invited to participate in the Springfield meetings held by Rep.
Rutherford.  Home owners continue to complain about IP's aggressive
tree-trimming practices and its trespassing over easement limits, or
claiming easements where there are none.
          IPCUTSOT members consult with Dr. Alex Shigo, whose leaflet on
utility tree-trimming is claimed by IP as one of its authorities.  B-N's
IPCUTSOT has an extensive photographic record of trees trimmed by IP in
Bloomington and Normal.  These are shared with Dr. Shigo, who points out how
IP has disregarded basic tree-trimming principles.

  5/2001 -- HB 1776, the new Utility Tree-Trimming Bill, passes both houses.
Electric public utilities must follow local tree-trimming ordinances for
non-emergency vegetation management practices; however, the municipalities
must pay additional costs incurred in following standards different from
those of the utility.  The utility standards described in the bill are ANSI
A-300 and OSHA, which cover the safety and equipment of the line clearance
workers, but do not set out line clearance lengths or how trees will be
trimmed.  The city of Chicago is exempt from HB 1776 by a technical
amendment and signs an agreement (franchise) with Commonwealth Edison.

  7/2001 -- HB 1776 remains unsigned in Gov. Ryan's office.  IPCUTSOT puts
up a new website (Trim Update) to keep the public informed about
tree-trimming crews current and future whereabouts
(www.geocities.com/trimupdate).
          IPCUTSOT in B-N continues to hold monthly public informational
meetings, and mails copies of a leaflet describing HB 1776 to neighborhood
associations, members, and local government leaders.  The Citizens Utility
Board posts the leaflet and new website on its site.  Media interest,
including interviews with WGLT, WILL-AM, and television stations, and
letters in local newspapers, continues.

  Future plans:

          1.  Heritage tree ordinances for all municipalities and counties.
These would recognize and protect (a) native trees identified by the IDNR's
Big Trees program, (b) significant nonnative trees (e.g. gingko), and (c)
trees with a particular historical significance (associated with an
historical figure or event).
          2.  New tariff.  All the intervenors which attended the Rutherford
meetings are still under a gag order as to what occurred during the
meetings.  But we expect a new IP tariff and have worked with other friendly
intervenors on a possible counter-tariff.
          3.  Meetings with IP.  Representatives from the C-U and B-N
IPCUTSOT groups have met with Peter Millberg of IP in public meetings and
privately.  We requested information from IP, and received some answers,
although not the complete information we were seeking.  Future meetings with
Millberg are on hold as we wait for the next tariff as he is not authorized
to negotiate, but only to inform us -- of what we already know.
          4. Expansion of IPCUTSOT.  We are in contact with Peoria's
citizens group against CILCO (Peoria CILCO Area Residents for Trees --
Peoria CARes for Trees) and the Galesburg Tree Commission.



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