EMCON recently used their rotary pruner for tree ‘trimming’ “because  there was a very small amount of aerial brushing … (and it was just) done around intersections this year on a very small scale compared to other years”.

However,  EMCON supervisor Ron Heslip said at a June 18 meeting at Agi Hall, “there has been a decision made that for larger quantity and areas of higher density … they will switch and use a saw blade which offers a far cleaner cut”.

Heslip was responding to a question posed by Trustee Sheila Malcolmson at a public meeting with highway officials. Malcolmson said the rotary trimmer has been used this spring to do high brush clearing in a number of areas. She said she thought there had been a commitment last year not to use the rotary trimmer for this work. She said this was the roadway issue about which she gets the most calls.

Malcolmson said the work she saw “was not around intersections and was quite extensive”. She said Berry Point Road, Harrison, and many other roads were trimmed this way.

Heslip said EMCON’s foreman decided to trim these areas because the foliage was getting in the way of vehicles. Malcolmson said this was not true for the areas she was aware of.

Malcolmson asked if things would be different next year. Heslip said “if we identify a larger quantity (of trees that need to be trimmed) we’ll switch to a different (saw)”.