DuPage seeks state's help in tree battle with ComEd

Negotiations between DuPage County and ComEd over tree-trimming rules along area trails apparently have been severed.

So now, in an effort to keep the power company from lopping off more treetops and killing vegetation along the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail, the county is asking the state to legislate ComEd into seeing things their way.

The county board's legislative committee is seeking a new law that requires utility companies to replace vegetation removed from public property while maintaining utility easements.

"We want a plan in place that requires these companies like ComEd offer a plan of restoration to maintain the character and charm of the area they have disturbed," said board member Jeff Redick, environmental committee chairman.

Democratic county board members have been seeking action against ComEd by the county for months and sought a far more hard line approach against the company and its tree-trimming contractor, Asplundh, when news of the vegetation decimation first surfaced. Board member Rita Gonzalez suggested the Republican majority is taking up the cause now to gain political points ahead of the February primary and November election.

"My first reaction is shame on them," Gonzalez said, "but I understand their desperation to look good to the public. After all it is an election year. Now they've claimed to be working on this and joining our efforts, so I look forward to working with them and utilizing them to accomplish our goals we've set."

Redick, who has no primary opponent, said the county board tried diplomacy with ComEd before seeking help from Springfield with laws. He said when ComEd walked away from the table after negotiating some restoration work along the trails, the county was left with no choice. He denied the move was tied to the elections and said the Democrats have failed to gain any ground in their war of words with ComEd.

"What have they done?" he said. "What proposal has ever been offered to the county board to deal with this issue? It's an offensive accusation - and shame on her."

Gonzalez requested the Illinois Commerce Commission - which has oversight of utility companies - step in to help, but the state agency reported sending her two letters responding to her complaints that did nothing to halt ComEd's trimming practices.

Don Kirchenberg, a Democratic candidate for the DuPage Forest Preserve board and voluntary president of the Friends of the Great Western Trail, said he's meeting with the officials from the commission, ComEd and Gov. Pat Quinn's office on Monday to try and come to a resolution on the matter. Kirchenberg said the ComEd's deforestation work along the trails this year has killed more than 3,000 trees.

"We've not given up," he said. "The fact that the governor's office is engaged makes us more hopeful."

ComEd officials say they won't comment on legislation that hasn't been introduced. However, spokesman Peter Pedraza said the company maintains it has done nothing wrong.

"ComEd is proceeding with a vegetation management approach in DuPage County that is consistent with our practices throughout our service territory and our responsibility to ensure safe and reliable electricity," he said. "We have continually held discussions with DuPage County officials, which have included our standard vegetation management practices and how the county may pay for work that goes beyond our standard level of service."

Redick said all the county wants is for the utility to replace trees that are chopped down with smaller trees that won't grow into the power lines and require Asplundh to come out in four years and do the same thing all over again.

"This is a cost savings to the utility," he said. "They'd never have to go through this again or pay someone to cut them down."