[Trees-executive] Re: Tom Green

[Carl H. Malmgren, II]

Thanks Gretchen,

This gives us again a part of the puzzle as to IP's intentions. 
Martha does a good job laying out our position and that connected 
with Dr. Shigo's book,  Mr. Appelt may be a good source.  Do you know 
if anyone has contacted him?

Carl


>Hi Carl -- This was forwarded to me by Martha Cook at ISU.  Gretchen
>
>>X-Sender: mecook1 at mail.ilstu.edu
>>Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 11:28:59 -0500
>>To: geknapp at davesworld.net
>>From: Martha Cook <mecook1 at ilstu.edu>
>>Subject: Fwd: Re:tree trimming and IP
>>X-RCPT-TO: <geknapp at davesworld.net>
>>
>>Hi G,
>>
>>I hope this info from Tom Green helps.
>>
>>Martha
>>
>>>Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 11:18:40 -0500
>>>From: Tom_Green at ccmail.wiu.edu
>>>Subject: Re:tree trimming and IP
>>>Sender: Tom_Green at ccmail.wiu.edu
>>>To: mecook1 at ilstu.edu
>>>Reply-to: Tom_Green at ccmail.wiu.edu
>>>MIME-version: 1.0
>>>Importance: normal
>>>Priority: normal
>>>
>>>Peter Milberg of IP called me and wanted to know growth rates for trees
>>>following pruning.  I was unable to talk to him in person but left a
>>>message on
>>>his answering machine that I did not have that information.  I referred
>him to
>>>Paul Appelt who may have that information.  Paul was a city forester in
>>>Downers
>>>Grove and later joined Commonwealth Edison.  Comm Ed downsized 
>>>their in house
>>>foresters and Paul is no longer working for them and I don't think is
>>>sympathetic to power companies.  But Paul is a tremendous resource and could
>>>probably be hired as a consultant to counter power company power plays.  I
>>>have
>>>Paul's new company email address but I am not sure it is correct
>>>pappelt at eci.consulting.com.  I think Mike Brunk, City Forester with
>>>Urbana, may
>>>have more information about Paul.  mjbrunk at city.urbana.il.us
>>>
>>>Peter Milberg never called me back.  I know several communities are having
>>>trouble with IP.  Each of the communities having problems needs to 
>>>keep their
>>>Represetatives and Senators informed.  You might want to get on Mike Brunk's
>>>emailing list.
>>>
>>>I hope this is of some help to you.
>>>
>>>____________________Reply Separator____________________
>>>Subject:    tree trimming and IP
>>>Author: "Martha Cook" <mecook1 at ilstu.edu>
>>>Date:       5/4/01 6:41 PM
>>>
>>>Dear Dr. Green,
>>>
>>>I'm a botanist at Illinois State University and also a member of a
>>>citizens's group that has been trying to prevent Illinois Power (IP) from
>>>trimming our trees in what we consider to be an extreme manner. You may be
>>>aware of the statewide controversy. Our greenhouse manager Don Schmidt
>>>tells me that Peter Millburg, the public relations person for IP, recently
>>>contacted him asking for information about tree pruning practices. Don
>>>referred him to you, knowing that you would provide good information, and
>>>also knowing that whatever you tell them, IP will try to twist it to suit
>>>their purposes. Previously IP misrepresented the work of Alex Shigo, who
>>>wrote a book on tree pruning near power lines. In a conversation with Don,
>>>Mr Shigo characterized the problem as confusion (by IP) of "potential risk"
>>>with "imminent hazard". Last fall IP instituted a plan which allowed them
>>>to remove all trees tall enough to fall on wires, not just unhealthy ones.
>>>More recently that plan was withdrawn, and negotiations are under way to
>>>determine what the policies will be.
>>>
>>>I'm contacting you to let you know what IP has done with tree-trimming
>>>information in the past, and to see if you might have any insight about
>>>what new strategy IP is employing now. I'm sorry for not talking to you in
>>>person. I tried to call, but missed you, and this is a long message to
>>>leave on an answering machine. Please let me know if I can provide you with
>>>more information or if you can help us in our efforts to defend our trees
>>>against IP.
>>>
>>>Thanks very much.
>>>
>>>Martha Cook
>>>
>>>__________________________________
>>>Martha E. Cook
>>>Assistant Professor of Botany
>>>Illinois State University
>  >>Department of Biological Sciences
>>>Campus Box 4120
>>>Normal, IL 61790-4120  USA
>>>Phone: 309-438-8549
>>>Fax:  309-438-3722
>>>E-mail: mecook1 at ilstu.edu
>>>http://www.bio.ilstu.edu/cook/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>__________________________________
>>Martha E. Cook
>>Assistant Professor of Botany
>>Illinois State University
>>Department of Biological Sciences
>>Campus Box 4120
>>Normal, IL 61790-4120  USA
>>Phone: 309-438-8549
>>Fax:  309-438-3722
>>E-mail: mecook1 at ilstu.edu
>>http://www.bio.ilstu.edu/cook/
>>