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Community Corner

Community Update

Letter to the editor in support of tree removal on Main Street.

Attn: Mr. Tom Richardson, Canton Department of Public Works
and Town of Canton, and Collinsville Main Street Community,



I am writing this letter in response to the posting of
proposed removal of the two locust trees on town property in front of the
Valley House.

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I am a resident of the building and have been for a little
over five years now. My wife and I are owners in the building and taxpayers in
the town.



I feel that the trees should be removed. They are not
historically accurate for one, and they offer little shade to the front of the
building. But beyond aesthetics, these trees could be dangerous. The leaves
they drop year round from late April until mid to late November clog the street
with leaves, prohibiting water to drain into the nearby storm drain.

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When wet these leaves are slippery, and while I have not
seen anyone slip, I myself have. I did not fall, thankfully, but with the
amount of foot traffic on the street, I feel it is only a matter of time. I
have also watch a number of large trucks strike the branches that hang over the
road. Again, I feel it is only a matter of time before a person or vehicle is
injured or damaged. Does the town want to pay for this when it happens?



I watched as the sidewalks were replaced a few years ago and
wonder when they will have to be done again. The root beds in the trees are
shallow and pop up the side walk. Does the town want to keep spending tax
dollars to fix a sidewalk, or take the trees down and find a suitable
replacement that won’t cause damage? I would support the removal and
re-planting of a better tree there.



My last point is this. I love nature, the outdoors and trees;
however these trees need to go.  They do
not offer much I the way of shade, like some have said because they are
constantly shedding leaves. They make a mess that the town does NOT clean up.
Valley House residents are forced to find time to manage this mess. This is not
our property, yet we clean it up now so that Main Street looks nice.



I understand that once the trees are cut, they will be gone.
I think that the town can find a better tree or planting to replace these
trees, and I am confident that Main Street will continue to have the same charm
it has now without the trees.



Thank you for the time to read this letter, and my hope is
that the trees will be removed and a suitable replace found in a timely manner.



 



Sincerely,



Mike Agogliati







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