Doug's Tree Service workers cut dead and dying trees at Columbia River Park today. The trees were considered by borough officials to be a public safety concern, and those slated to be cut had been marked with orange spray paint as reported HERE on Columbia Spy. Last fall, Columbia Borough Council approved the hiring of Doug's Tree Service to cut the trees at a price not to exceed $14,000. Reportedly, Doug's had submitted the lowest of several bids for the job. As reported on Columbia Spy HERE, Borough Manager Ron Miller said that reforesting will be done in the spring to replace the lost trees.
An "uprooted" information plaque and a badly broken park bench were found near one of the cut trees close to the bridge today. Columbia Spy also found a chainsaw that was apparently left behind by Doug's workers and reported it to Columbia Borough Police, who retrieved it. Calls to Doug's Tree Service were unanswered due to their office being closed today.
As a representative at dougs tree service, we take full responsibility of the broken bench , our guys went to move it so it would not be in the way while removing the trees and the upper back support broke along with the concrete because of the cold temperatures, as you can see there is not a scuff on it , as for the chainsaw we thank and appreciate for whom ever handed it in
ReplyDeleteThey have been there for years an now all of a sudden its a problem. How many buildings are a danger to the residents of columbia and nothing is being done about them but u guys are worried about some damn trees
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was "sudden". The trees were dead at the top and some of the branches were dangling. Consider how many people walk along the riverbank. They should not be knowingly placed in jeopardy. This was discussed at a borough meeting last fall and as I recall it was also in a report on this site.
DeleteRight. The borough did the right thing. This plan was in the works for quite some time and was mentioned on this site several times over the past few months.
DeleteWe do have a Shade Tree Commission in Columbia. I believe that they presented facts about several trees that were diseased or in need of being removed. I think that the meetings are open to the public. If people are concerned (and great if they are) they should attend the meetings in order to know what decisions are being made and why.
DeleteNah, people would rather complain than listen to the facts.
DeletePeople think trees live forever, apparently.
DeleteSo it seems.
DeleteThanks for showing the pictures otherwise I would not have known this was happening. I cannot get out due to the weather. I depend on the information given here.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Some people prefer Facebook rumors to facts, however.
DeleteFacebook followers are in another world. When one writes an untruth, they all jump on the bandwagon and it becomes their own manufactured reality. However wrong it may be, they believe it and their narrow minds cannot be changed.
Delete“In a comprehensive new study of Facebook that analyzed posts made between 2010 and 2014, a group of scholars found that people mainly shared information that confirmed their prejudices, paying little attention to facts and veracity. (Hat tip to Cass Sunstein, the leading expert on this topic.) The result, the report says, is the “proliferation of biased narratives fomented by unsubstantiated rumors, mistrust and paranoia.” The authors specifically studied trolling — the creation of highly provocative, often false information, with the hope of spreading it widely. The report says that “many mechanisms cause false information to gain acceptance, which in turn generate false beliefs that, once adopted by an individual, are highly resistant to correction.”
Deletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bile-venom-and-lies-how-i-was-trolled-on-the-internet/2016/01/14/62207a2c-baf8-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html
It has to be the worst day to do a job like this. Well, maybe the worst would have been two weeks ago today. At any rate, I feel sorry for anyone working outside in this weather, but maybe they are accustomed to it. I do wonder, if the bench should have been moved prior to the freezing temperatures in preparation for this project. I have great difficulty moving things in my yard once the ground freezes.
ReplyDeleteBorough has stock of replacements for the bench. Don't worry it will be replaced in the spring when weather allows.
ReplyDeletea HUGE Kudos to Dougs! Unfortunately it most likely was an oversight that the bench wasn't moved beforehand by the Boro. Yes with wind chills a few degrees below zero these things happen. I agree....hanging tree limbs from tops of trees are indeed a priority! Thanks to a job well done. I know my face, ears, nose etc were freezing within minutes of waling outside yesterday. Thanks, there are people who do appreciate it!!
ReplyDeleteYes, no harm was done and undoubtedly the bench will be replaced. Generally speaking, items that could be damaged would be properly moved and stored prior to beginning the work (especially with heavy work like this). In the old days, this would have been called "rip shit or bust"! Now it's called an oversight. Anyway, no one was hurt so it's all ok. It really does look like a tough job.
DeleteWho makes the benches??
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know why they waited so long to remove the trees? It had been discussed and decided on months ago. The trees slated for removal were already marked with orange paint. Wonder why they waited until February.
ReplyDeleteFill in work....
ReplyDelete