Bishop - Arboreal concerns take root in Independence

Tempers flared when residents and supervisors discussed the fate of two tall pine trees in Independence on Tuesday.

At a time when the town is looking at losing several trees to the Independence-Manzanar Four Lane Project, several residents addressed the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, asking for a reversal to the long-standing decision to remove the trees from Clay Street. The residents claim the trees are not as much of a danger as previously perceived, and their loss would create far greater impacts than leaving them in place would.
While the supervisors seemed to agree in principle that greenery is good, considering they noted the pending removal of trees along U.S. 395 is regrettable, they also said the fact remains that the county had already made a decision regarding the Clay Street cedars.
Back in October of 2005, a homeowner on Clay Street in Independence notified the county that two pines posed a threat to his property.
According to Bob Brown of the Inyo County Roads Department, shortly before the complaint, a limb from one of the problem cedars had fallen and damaged the resident’s fence, and because the trees lie on a county right-of-way, Inyo was liable for the damages and required to fix the damaged fence.
At the time of the resident’s request, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors reviewed the complaint and made a motion to cut down the trees, pursuant to Inyo County Tree Removal Policy.
Per county policy, a tree must pose danger to a person or property before officials can move it or have it cut down.
According to Ron Chegwidden, director of the Inyo County Public Works Department, “due to equipment issues with our personnel hoists, the Road Department was not able to proceed on the removal of these trees until recently.”
He explained that the trees on Clay Street were too tall for Inyo County to use its own cherry-pickers to hoist limbers to the top to begin cutting them down. “Last week we arranged to rent appropriate equipment and began with the removal of the subject trees,” Chegwidden told the board. “But we encountered considerable public outcry when we attempted to begin work.”
In response, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors scheduled Tuesday’s discussion with the concerned community members to hear their thoughts on the cedars.
The supervisors agreed to hear comments from the concerned residents, but delayed any decision for at least one week, as the resident who made the original request to have the trees removed had fallen ill and was unable to attend the meeting Tuesday.
Several residents spoke to the importance of the shade and wind-break the trees provide in Indepen-dence and the integrity of the two trees in question.
“We had one of the worst wind storms I’ve seen, and there was no damage to those trees that I saw,” said Independence resident and Independence Civic Club member Jennifer Duncan. “Those trees seem quite healthy,” she said.
But Fourth District Inyo County Supervisor Jim Bilyeu wasn’t convinced. “Are you an arborist?” Bilyeu asked Duncan.

A crew from the Inyo County Roads Department assesses two trees on Clay Street in Independence that are slated for removal. Residents are concerned about the removal, and have argued for keeping the cedars despite a 2005 decision by the county to cut them down. Photo courtesy KSRW

The supervisor, whose district includes Independence, said the trees have been limbed from the bottom up, which has made them “top heavy,” and a safety hazard for surrounding vehicles, structures and pedestrians.
Independence resident Joel Hampton asked the supervisors to delay any decision regarding the trees until the county has investigated further, asserting that the trees “are not a direct issue for one particular land owner” and therefore should be a community decision. “We have a lot of trees here for a variety of reasons” not limited to wind breaks and shade, Hampton said.
But again, Bilyeu argued. The supervisor commented that the trees are indeed more of an impact for the complaining resident than the rest of the community.
“Are you willing to go out there and rake pine cones and pine needles?” Bilyeu asked Hampton. He also noted that the county has had to repair the complainant’s fence on one occasion due to downed limbs from the trees.
According to Inyo County resident Nina Weissmen, “in an area with so much wind, these trees grow up to withstand the wind.” Weissmen recommended the county hire a certified arborist to take a look at the problem trees and make the final decision regarding their health.
Weissmen said she would be content if the county could “get away with trimming the trees so they aren’t so dangerous.”
First District Supervisor Linda Arcularius noted that from her experience living on a ranch in Inyo County, even trees that have grown up in the area are susceptible to the winds.
Bilyeu also commented that the root structure for the trees in question are almost completely under pavement, “which suggests the trees are not healthy.”
“I don’t really think this county has the funds to hire an arborist to evaluate all the trees in Inyo County,” Bilyeu said, noting the cost could be between $7,000 and $8,000 per tree. “The limbs on the top of these trees are a hazard to people on the ground and this gentleman is a senior citizen and he is quite concerned with his safety and the safety of others,” he said.
Benett Kessler, another Independence resident, suggested that a tree-trimming service could evaluate the trees, which “would not be very expensive.”
All suggestions aside, Chegwidden said that he would like to move forward on removing the trees as soon as possible.
Because there has been a complaint regarding the integrity of the trees, and the county recognized the pines as a danger and moved to have them removed, County Counsel Paul Bruce said at the conclusion of the discussion that if the trees caused any damage in the event of a downed limb, “that’s the basis for establishing liability of the county.”
With that in mind, the Board of Supervisors scheduled another discussion on the Clay Street pines for 10 a.m. next Tuesday. At that time the board is expected to make a final decision on the fate of the trees.