Nakusp village council is now maintaining the trees on Nakusp beach to avoid cutting them down and replanting as recommended by BC Hydro.
Previously, BC Hydro would prune the trees once every four years. However, the trees at the beach grow and entangle the power lines much faster than that.
“It’s a real nuisance to BC Hydro,” Nakusp public works manager Mike Pedersen told council.
The company has offered the village $2,000 to cut down and replant the trees in “a more suitable location,” according to Mary Anne Coules, BC Hydro spokesperson.
“Tree contact or trees growing too close to electric power lines can create a severe public safety hazard and cause interruption of electrical and other services,” Coules said. “Pre-emptive solutions include the removal of weak or hazardous trees, careful planting near power lines or transformers and regular tree pruning near power lines.”
However, mayor Hamling and the rest of council didn’t want to remove the trees at the beach as they provide a nice aesthetic view and provide shade.
Pedersen said maintaining the trees themselves once every couple years would cost the village a few hundred dollars.
Council agreed to pay the expense.
BC Hydro said it’s common practice to offer grants to communities for relocating trees in these situations.
Snow removal policy will not change despite complaints
Nakusp village council is not changing priority on how snow is removed during the winter despite complaints from seniors.
The Rotary Villa, a seniors’ apartment building in Nakusp, sent in a letter to the village with concerns of access during the winter.
They said the only way they can get into their building is through the alleyway, which is handled after the primary and secondary roads are plowed.
Since this normally doesn’t get finished until 1 p.m. seniors were having trouble getting in and out of their homes in the morning.
However, public works manager Mike Pedersen said changing the route only for them would only open a floodgate of requests.
“I’m surprised this has taken this long to get to council through a letter,” Pedersen said. “There are a number of places in town with only alley access.”
Pedersen agreed it’s important to get the alleyways, but their first priority is always going to be access for fire and ambulance service.
Mayor Hamling asked if there were other alleyways which are the only access for seniors, and Pedersen said there were.
“My concern is picking one group of seniors over another,” she said.
Pedersen said the way the route is now, the Rotary Villa’s alley is one of the first ones done anyway.
“We have an awful lot of requests for us to alter the priorities in which we plow,” Pedersen said. “Everybody in town wants their road plowed first.”
Council agreed keeping it as it is now is the most fair system they have.
“I think what’s important is we deal with everybody fairly in town,” Hamling said.
Pedersen said he understands their complaints, but the public works department works hard and never had a day when they weren’t finished plowing by 1 p.m.
Council will be sending a letter explaining their position and moved on to the next item.
New boat launch delayed, but not cancelled
BC Hydro has delayed installing a new boat launch in Nakusp because of high waters this coming Spring.
Village council announced they will instead start working on it in January 2012.
Mayor Hamling has requested confirmation of this in writing and BC Hydro has complied.