KUB Tree Trimming
KUB’s still not making any friends with all it’s tree trimming. While I’m not a huge fan of some of the chopping they’ve done in my neighborhood, I also wasn’t so psyched a few weeks ago when one of my neighbor’s huge, old trees took out a transformer.
What do you think? Are you tired of KUB chopping up your neighborhood? Do you think they’re being too aggressive or do you think all that pruning is really necessary?
Author: Suzy
Hard working Knoxville real estate agent by day. Intrepid Knoxville real estate blogger by night.
Management of KUB would be delighted if they could get away with wiping out all the city’s trees; their jobs would be simpler. We as a city must decide if we’re willing to exchange the beauty of stately, tree-lined streets for the absolute certainty that our electricity will never be interrupted (forget about saving money; even if they DID cut down every tree and save money, YOU’RE not getting any discount).
KUB does not own our trees, though they behave as though they can do with them as they will, including claiming the right to cut down any tree they see as potentially tall that is less than 6” in diameter. Their claims to practice lateral pruning are, in my experience, laughable. They also leave the fallen limbs behind for the homeowner to clean up as best they can, burning not being an option in the city and unlikely in the county in these times of drought.
Also, the cost of the theoretical damage a falling limb might do is not weighed against the savings that trees produce, for example in cooling costs (from 9 to 36°F cooler under a large tree), runoff control, etc. And they certainly give no thought to the value of a tree’s beauty, or that of the birds who live in it.
It is time for homeowners, tree lovers, and those who appreciate grace and beauty to stand up to KUB. In the words of George Morris:
“WOODMAN, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I’ll protect it now.“
Mr Mayer,
I agree with you. The Knoxville Utilities Board makes their own laws and disregards the laws already on the books.
On my particular trees they cut well beyond the easement and butchered the trees ground to sky. KUB cut about half the tree canopy from both of my 60+ year old maples. They claim they are using the national arbor day foundation standard. I looked that up, and the national arbor day foundation says NEVER cut more than 1/4 of a tree canopy at one time.
I understand we need tree trimming to keep the lights on, but KUB shouldn’t just be able to what they want and how they want.
K.U.B. Knotrol Ur Butchery
kubcomplaints.com