Indy Star
People suprise me at times.
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7 days Archive
September 2, 2005
Seeing red
Resident's protest of IPL tree trimming lands her in handcuffs
Coming down: Placed in handcuffs by police after she put her finger on the chest of a tree trimmer hired by IPL, Pat Easterday, 64, watched as a tree was cut down on her property in the 7900 block of Lafayette Road on Thursday. -- Matt Kryger / The Star
IPL notice policy
IPL notifies customers three months in advance via a notice sent with the IPL bill, and a week in advance by door hanger.
By John Tuohy and Vic Ryckaert
john.tuohy@indystar.com
Who painted the smiley face?
The answer to that issue, which started eight months ago, riled Traders Point residents who were in a dispute with Indianapolis Power & Light Co. about tree removal near their homes.
The smile was spray-painted in red by IPL on a tree that was tagged to be cut down on West 86th Street. It prompted a ban on tree cutting in the area and a compromise this week.
But on Thursday, the tension between the sides escalated again when a 64-year-old homeowner confronted a tree trimmer and was handcuffed and detained by police.
"It scared me to death," Pat Easterday said after the incident, in which an off-duty Indianapolis police officer working security for IPL pushed her onto the hood of his car after cuffing her. "I touched him (the worker), but I'm 64 years old; he's a young guy."
Easterday was detained in a police car for about an hour, but no charges were filed and she was released.
The confrontation came after months of bristling talks about how many trees should be removed in the area around 86th Street and Lafayette Road.
IPL must routinely cut down or trim trees so they don't entangle power lines, a problem that causes electrical outages to 150,000 customers a year.
In January, IPL workers marked more than 1,000 trees to be cut down. Homeowners thought the number was excessive. Then someone spotted the smiley face, which was a looping half-circle underneath two dots on a tree with a split trunk.
The residents complained to Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Wynns and City-County Councilman Isaac Randolph. In February, the parks departmentplaced a moratorium on tree removal in the area.
At a meeting Tuesday, the sides appeared to have reached an agreement that would save trees: A parks department arborist would accompany IPL workers in identifying which trees to raze, and trees on private property would not be cut down.
"We don't expect a large amount of removals, " parks department administrator Jason Kissel said at the meeting.
But when the sawing started, the residents said IPL was cutting down almost every tree in sight.
"I'm kind of stunned," said Cindy Baker, a member of the residents group.
Other neighbors described the tree removal as "a massacre."
But Kissel and IPL said fewer trees are being cut down than planned.
"Some tall-growing species are left intact, as are some shorter species," Kissel said. "A significant amount of trees are being saved."
IPL cut down about 30 trees that buffered Easterday's home from Lafayette Road traffic.
Easterday said she was supposed to be told when the tree trimmers were coming. Instead, she returned from an appointment and found workers in action. She put her finger on the chest of one of the trimmers and was restrained by police.
IPL spokeswoman Crystal Livers-Powers said the company tried to contact Easterday on Thursday before the cutting began.
Councilman Randolph is telling residents to keep their cool. He said he is working on a citywide ordinance that would more clearly define where trees can be cut.
"Tensions are high," Randolph said, "and I can easily see something like this escalating into violence in a neighborhood that is less civil."
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People suprise me at times.
[ QUOTE ]
7 days Archive
September 2, 2005
Seeing red
Resident's protest of IPL tree trimming lands her in handcuffs
Coming down: Placed in handcuffs by police after she put her finger on the chest of a tree trimmer hired by IPL, Pat Easterday, 64, watched as a tree was cut down on her property in the 7900 block of Lafayette Road on Thursday. -- Matt Kryger / The Star
IPL notice policy
IPL notifies customers three months in advance via a notice sent with the IPL bill, and a week in advance by door hanger.
By John Tuohy and Vic Ryckaert
john.tuohy@indystar.com
Who painted the smiley face?
The answer to that issue, which started eight months ago, riled Traders Point residents who were in a dispute with Indianapolis Power & Light Co. about tree removal near their homes.
The smile was spray-painted in red by IPL on a tree that was tagged to be cut down on West 86th Street. It prompted a ban on tree cutting in the area and a compromise this week.
But on Thursday, the tension between the sides escalated again when a 64-year-old homeowner confronted a tree trimmer and was handcuffed and detained by police.
"It scared me to death," Pat Easterday said after the incident, in which an off-duty Indianapolis police officer working security for IPL pushed her onto the hood of his car after cuffing her. "I touched him (the worker), but I'm 64 years old; he's a young guy."
Easterday was detained in a police car for about an hour, but no charges were filed and she was released.
The confrontation came after months of bristling talks about how many trees should be removed in the area around 86th Street and Lafayette Road.
IPL must routinely cut down or trim trees so they don't entangle power lines, a problem that causes electrical outages to 150,000 customers a year.
In January, IPL workers marked more than 1,000 trees to be cut down. Homeowners thought the number was excessive. Then someone spotted the smiley face, which was a looping half-circle underneath two dots on a tree with a split trunk.
The residents complained to Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Wynns and City-County Councilman Isaac Randolph. In February, the parks departmentplaced a moratorium on tree removal in the area.
At a meeting Tuesday, the sides appeared to have reached an agreement that would save trees: A parks department arborist would accompany IPL workers in identifying which trees to raze, and trees on private property would not be cut down.
"We don't expect a large amount of removals, " parks department administrator Jason Kissel said at the meeting.
But when the sawing started, the residents said IPL was cutting down almost every tree in sight.
"I'm kind of stunned," said Cindy Baker, a member of the residents group.
Other neighbors described the tree removal as "a massacre."
But Kissel and IPL said fewer trees are being cut down than planned.
"Some tall-growing species are left intact, as are some shorter species," Kissel said. "A significant amount of trees are being saved."
IPL cut down about 30 trees that buffered Easterday's home from Lafayette Road traffic.
Easterday said she was supposed to be told when the tree trimmers were coming. Instead, she returned from an appointment and found workers in action. She put her finger on the chest of one of the trimmers and was restrained by police.
IPL spokeswoman Crystal Livers-Powers said the company tried to contact Easterday on Thursday before the cutting began.
Councilman Randolph is telling residents to keep their cool. He said he is working on a citywide ordinance that would more clearly define where trees can be cut.
"Tensions are high," Randolph said, "and I can easily see something like this escalating into violence in a neighborhood that is less civil."
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