T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ Pictured is a crew, contracted by Alliant Energy, trimming and removing trees in the neighborhood of Jerome St. Some residents have contacted Alliant, as well as the City of Marshalltown, voicing objections to the cutting down of these trees, and the amount of notice property owners have been given that these efforts are being made.

Trees and powerlines can prove to be a hazardous combination. Unfortunately, in many places in Marshalltown, the two must find a way to coexist.

In recent weeks, Alliant Energy has been making upgrades to power grids to allow for more people to get connected with power, which will also result in fewer substations in neighborhoods. While streamlining energy options has been met with support, the cutting down of neighborhood trees has been less popular.

“Trees are always a very sensitive issue, so [the complaints] are nothing we’re surprised by,” said Justin Nickel, Public Works director for the city of Marshalltown.

Nickel noted that the tree removal complaints the city has received pertain to trees located on city terraces — area situated between the sidewalk and street — land which actually belongs to the city, and not to the property owner.

“I think there’s a lack of understanding,” Nickel said of knowing about this property boundary line.

Justin Foss, senior communications partner at Alliant Energy, said the company’s mission is to ensure its customers have access to electricity, while still maintaining safety standards. The power lines in the area of Jerome Street have particularly come to the attention of the City of Marshalltown and Alliant Energy.

“In order to upgrade a substation there, the powerlines need more clearance from trees than what was needed in the past,” Foss said. “Higher voltage means we need to keep trees farther away from powerlines.”

Alliant Energy’s contractors have been trimming limbs and taking down trees for this purpose. Residents, however, have voiced concerns over what they perceive as a lack of notice given by the power company, as well as desiring alternatives that would not negatively impact trees.

“Isn’t there another way to serve energy purposes so that beautiful old hardwood trees on our streets do not have to be cut down?” said Glady Winter, who lives near where some of the tree trimming is being conducted. “I just wish people had a greater appreciate for trees. They give us shade and keep our houses cooler.”

Dr. Richard Squiers, in a letter to the editor to the T-R, shared his personal experience with trees being removed on his property on Jerome Street. He noted how in the 1970s, several trees were removed from his property because of fear of Dutch elm disease. He then planted replacement trees.

“At our expense, we replaced the terrace elms with hard maples, a Linden and a flowering crab,” Squiers said.

In recent weeks, those trees were trimmed, then ultimately cut down.

“My only notification was at my front door as removal was about to begin,” Squiers said.

When asked about what type of notice Alliant Energy gives its customers, Foss said, “We started trying to reach customers two weeks before the project. We have come at all times of day and after work.”

He said tree trimming and removal doesn’t start on a property until at least one adult in the household has been notified.

“We canvassed the area at first — trying to get as many as possible [notified], and have continued to follow-up,” Foss said. “With that said, there are always exceptions to the rule, but these are exceptions.”

Foss said Alliant Energy works to minimize tree removal, and also offers tree incentive programs for people to plant trees on their property, in places that will not potentially cause problems with powerlines.

“We are starting to do more underground powerlines, but, by code, we have to build at the lowest cost standard, and a three-phase powerline is more expensive to put underground, while a one-phase is cheaper to put underground. It just depends,” Foss said.

When in doubt about tree removal done on behalf of Alliant Energy, Foss encourages customers to phone the company.

“We know that trees help with energy efficiency,” Foss said. “We help cities to get trees replaced. If customers have questions or concerns about tree removal call us at 1-800-ALLIANT. A real person answers the calls, and every question gets answered.”

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com