Strengthen ComEd deal with DuPage

ComEd's years of horrendous DuPage trails management, mindless chopping and hacking of trail vegetation, treeless trunks and miles of stumps, may be at end. Labeled as ComEd's long-term goals, it has offered to replace 750 damaged trees, with service-friendly, low-growth, indigenous plants.

Taking root this sounds excellent, for trail enthusiasts and green living throughout DuPage County. But, by no stretch of the imagination, is this a long term plan, as ComEd makes no guarantees and is committed to nothing more than filling 750 holes and walking away, saying "let nature take its course".

Long-term goals of green space management should be far from frivolous, as were the Com Ed solutions to the problem to begin with. Real long-term demands, demand nothing less than 750 guarantees for the un-frivolous loss of thousands of trees over the years. This is the least residents of DuPage County should expect.

To that end I strongly recommend amending ComEd's current proposed green agreement with DuPage County, adding a continuing two-year cycle of custody on all plant replacements, in other words, "ComEd solely or in concert with environmental concerns, must examine all placements and replace failed trees where necessary."

This stronger environmental commitment will help build accountability, and strengthen partnerships for generations to come, further establishing DuPage County as an environmental leader statewide.

Tom Grimston

Wheaton