Jan. 22, 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please see the map that details the Dominion Energy tree trimming project from Jan. 25-29 .
The City of Beaufort has enlisted the assistance of Michael Murphy, a board-certified master arborist and one of only seven in South Carolina. Murphy is working with a very accomplished arborist, Will Epting, from Dominion Energy. These two men are in constant consultation to ensure the physical and structural health of each tree is maintained, while addressing Dominion Energy’s need to prevent service outages or danger to life or property due to the lack of proper tree pruning or interference with power lines.
Dominion Energy will be pruning trees in The Point for approximately the next three weeks. The pruning will significantly reduce the potential for service interruptions or hazards to people or property. Given the character of Beaufort in general and The Point in particular, nobody desires to prune any tree. But effective pruning is essential to ensure to public safety. We are working together to make certain that trees are pruned in a responsible manner to ensure their continued health while preserving the appearance, to the greatest extent possible, which all of us have come to appreciate.
With regard to the palmetto trees in The Point, ONLY those palmetto trees that directly interact with Dominion power lines will be removed, and each tree will be analyzed before any decision is made to either prune or remove by the arborist. Both arborists agree that some palmetto trees must be removed due to interaction with the power lines. The lifespan of some palmettos has allowed them to reach a stage which presents an untenable liability. In this respect, both the City and Dominion agree. Palmetto trees that directly interact with the power lines have a significantly higher risk of causing an outage while posing an electrical or fire hazard. No oaks will be removed.
Crews will be working on the following streets in The Point beginning on Monday:
- Hancock
- Short
- Laurens
- Bayard
- Hamilton
- New Street
- Washington
- East Street
Tree-trimming crews will only have two trucks on any given street at a time. Crews may also adjust their work locations based on conditions like weather and traffic; however, all work will be confined to The Point.
Safety!
Safety is the No. 1 concern for both the City of Beaufort and Dominion Energy. Please allot extra time when transiting through the area. Please watch out for tree trimmers who are focused on trimming trees and not necessarily on the road. Remember, if you cannot see heavy machinery operators, they cannot see you.
Stay informed
Both the City of Beaufort and Dominion Energy have project leads to address questions, comments, or concerns. Will Epting is representing Dominion Energy and can be reached at William.epting@dominionenergy.com or 1-800-251-7234. Neal Pugliese is representing the City of Beaufort and can be reached at npugliese@cityofbeaufort.org or 843-470-3512 anytime. Please encourage all those affected or interested in the Dominion Energy tree-trimming project to register with the “Notify Me” application found on the City of Beaufort website (https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/list.aspx) and subscribe to the Dominion tree pruning updates, which will be delivered directly via text or email.
Thank you for your patience as this essential project continues.
Neal Pugliese, Col USMC (Ret)
Chairman
Mossy Oaks Multijurisdictional Drainage Task Force
npugliese@cityofbeaufort.org
