Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
September 6, 2016 10:00 p.m.
Residents of North 6th Street were not pleased to see a tree trimming service hired by Florida Public Utilities remove three palm trees which had graced the historic street for decades. But, according to Kelly Gibson, senior planner for the City of Fernandina Beach, they have every right to do so. “Power utilities are exempt from obtaining tree removal permits under Florida Statute 163.3209
Gibson said “some palm trees [located on the city’s west side right of way] . . were so high they were approaching the primary electrical transmission wires. Once trees get to this level, continued trimming [creates] an even more hazardous situation for utility workers.” Florida Public Utilities did contact the city prior to removal of the palm trees.
Florida Public Utilities (FPU) has identified 30 trees, mostly palm trees in its Amelia Island service area, that “are causing, or have high potential of causing problems because of their proximity to power lines,” said Aleida Socarras, Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Energy Logistics for Florida Public Utilities Company. “We only remove trees as a last resort when trimming no longer is an option.”
The good news is that FPU will work with the Amelia Tree Conservancy and the City of Fernandina Beach and replace trees that must be removed. In addition, they will launch an educational campaign to raise awareness of the importance of planting appropriate trees near utility wires.
Sad to lose the trees but that is the downside of planting within the right-of-way. Good thing is that palms grow pretty quickly. Neighborly that FPU is replacing the trees at some location.