The city council approved a letter that will go to property owners whose trees will be trimmed or cut around power lines. 

Southwest Ward Alderwoman Bekki Galloway, who also is a member of the city’s tree board, asked that the letters be sent out in advance for large trees that face removal. “There are a couple of trees I can think of that are in the lines. If they choose to cut those down, I think they ought to give people a heads up.”

Mrs. Galloway also said she would deliver letters to such properties herself. 

The city has been aggressive in the last couple of years with trimming and removing trees that are entangled with overhead electric lines to address power outages and line loss.

“There are a handful of problem ones left,” Mayor Jerry Dawson said. 

Cutting and trimming will resume sometime in October after trees shed their leaves.

Below is the letter that will be sent to property owners whose trees will be trimmed and cut.

“Dear Citizen,

In order to maintain the integrity of the electric grid that supplies electricity to the City of Fayette, the City of Fayette workers may choose to remove or prune any trees that interfere with the electric lines or present a hazard. This is to protect the public and businesses from loss of power and is a provision of the ordinance for trees found within https://ecode360.com/30208004. 

We are notifying you of this so that you may be prepared for the possible trimming and/or removal of trees on your property or in the right of way creating potential hazards related to the electrical lines. We encourage you to replant the right tree in the right place. For ideas of the right trees to plant for your yard, please check out the City of Fayette Missouri Standard Inventory Analysis and Management Plan on the City of Fayette website: cityoffayettemo.com.  

In short, trees that will grow large canopies need to be at least 30 feet away from power lines.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Sincerely,

Danny Dougherty

City of Fayette Public Works Director

ddougherty@cityoffayettemo.com”

The city council meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open, agendas are published in advance, and the public is invited.