Follow recommendations, ComEd

We were heartened to see the July 3 Fence Post letter from Calvin Butler, senior vice president of ComEd regarding maintenance along the Great Western Trail. We have long been an advocate for the upkeep and use of these trails, and have been watching the current debate with a great degree of interest. We understand the need for limited and responsible tree trimming, and hope we can reach an agreement that will serve everyone's interests.

We would like to point out to Mr. Butler the June 12 memorandum released by the DuPage County Trail Maintenance Task Force. We feel that this document is a well-put-together plan that addresses ComEd's needs while maintaining the trails in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing to the hikers, bikers, horsemen and other residents who use these trails. Some recommendations of the memorandum that we would like to make Mr. Butler aware of are:

• Removal of invasive species of plants and the use of indigenous species to replace them.

• Use of glyphosate as the only herbicide used along the trail. You and I would refer to this herbicide by the brand name Round Up.

• Direct application of this herbicide only. Task force Chairman Brook McDonald recommends low-pressure spray application, low-pressure sponge application or swipe or wick application. We would recommend the swipe or wick method.

• Responsible trimming of trees along power lines that leaves the trees healthy and aesthetically pleasing.

As Mr. Butler pointed out, there is no official agreement on this issue despite the claims in county board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom's June 22 press release of a deal between the county and ComEd. We hope ComEd will adopt the recommendations of the task force and implement these recommendations as policy.

Pete Null

chairman, Bloomingdale Township Democratic Organization

Susan Lubonovich

chairwoman, Winfield Township Democratic Organization