Com Ed Tree Cutters Coming

Trees near power lines are in danger this summer.

Com Ed is sending tree cutters to many areas in McHenry County during the next three months.

Com Ed Tree Trimming NoticeThat’s what the post card says.

Details of the tree trimming this summer by Com Ed.

Details of the tree trimming this summer by Com Ed.

Com Ed calls it “vegetation management.”

With all the authority cited, one might wonder why State Rep. Jack Franks introduced a bill to give the electric company more power to cut down trees.

Emily Berendt of the Fleming Road Alliance originally alerted me to Franks House Bill 3884. Here is how she summarized it:

It allows the utility company to remove any tree that has a mature height of over 25 feet and is within 20 feet of a utility pole or overhead conductor.

Franks called it the “Overhead Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act.”

Did this satirical movie poster inspire a Chicago Tribune headline?

It was such a ridiculous expansion of power that the Chicago Tribune’s lead editorial on Sunday, March 12, 2012, was dedicated to Franks’ “Illinois Chain Saw Massacre” proposal.

Among other comments, the editorial writer said,

The legislation would establish an arbitrary 20-foot buffer, evidently between the electrical pole or cable and any offending tree trunk. That would make thousands of Illinois trees into live bait for the chain saw crews.

…if a homeowner planted a shade-tree sapling within 20 feet of electrical transmission lines, the bill would empower utilities to chop it down, without replacement, on the theory that it might one day blossom into a problem…

All shade trees sold in Illinois expected to grow beyond 25 feet in height would have to carry a label declaring it unlawful to plant such “restricted vegetation” anywhere near a pole or wire.

It seemed to me that Franks deserved the title, “Chainsaw Jack.”

Franks took the “my constituents made me do it” approach when the sawdust started blowing.

Probably unrelated, but interesting, is Franks’ acceptance of $1,000 from Downstate electric utility Ameren.  This was reported to the State Board of Elections on Feb. 12, 2012.

Although Franks introduced the bill on November 21, 2011, amendatory language didn’t show up until February 21, 2012, about a week before Franks received a $1,000 contribution from Ameren (Com Ed’s monopoly counterpart in Central and Southern Illinois).

Surprising many was Jack Franks’ backflip on opposing Com Ed rate hikes announced the night before the vote on Twitter.  Franks has crafted the image of a “populist.”

Maybe the contribution was in appreciation of his voting for the so-called Smart Grid on October 26, 2011, after having voted “No” on May 30, 2011.

He’s one of the ones who voted to allow Com Ed to hike your electric bill. (House and Senate roll calls here.


Comments

Com Ed Tree Cutters Coming — 1 Comment

  1. Franks is an expert at convincing his Republican supporters that HE is responsible for getting them Illinois tax dollars for capital projects.

    Jack Franks supports prevailing wage laws which ensure him the support of the union crowd.

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