By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH – If a tree falls in the city, it seems that lots of people hear it.
That’s the reason that representatives of NIPSCO came before Plymouth’s Common Council Monday night, to go over the company’s tree trimming program.
Mike Charbonneau and Jason Liets, of NIPSCO, outlined the program undertaken by the company to make sure that the electric power in Plymouth is reliable especially during the summer storm season.

“More than 40 percent of power outages are caused by trees,” said Charbonneau.
Liets explained that the priorities on which trees are targeted for trimming or re-moval is based on keeping reliable electric service and safety. He explained that electric power lines are not insulated and therefore can make the trees themselves a hazard.
“If tree grows or blows into power lines, especially if they are wet from a storm, they can become energized,” said Liets. “It’s a difficult thing to deal with at times because people do become very attached to their trees, but it can be a big issue for safety.”
He said that trees closer than 10 feet to the lowest voltage lines can pose a threat to safety.
NIPSCO has already undertaken a survey of the area around Plymouth to spot what are called “hazard” trees – trees that pose an immediate danger to power lines from either falling limbs or the possibility of falling on the lines in high wind situations. Some of the things that the company looks for in such trees are hollow areas, dead limbs, or dead leaves.
Liets said that 582 property owners had been contacted about the company removing or pruning such trees. He also said that 30 to 40 city street trees were also targeted for some sort of action.
Using scientific data, Liets said the company considers removing a tree in instances where it is determined that 25 to 33 percent of the crown will be impacted by pruning. He also said that in the case of the city, all trees removed would be replaced with another species of tree that would not grow high enough to impact power lines.
Each individual case is different with private trees on private property with each property owner able to negotiate an agreement with the company on whether the tree is to be pruned or removed and if so how the wood will be disposed of.
Liets said work crews are to have any area where tree work is done, cleaned up by the end of the work day that the service is performed.
• Mayor Mark Senter and the city presented a proclamation to 2007 Miss Indiana Nicole Rash in recognition of her year of representing the city.
• Senter and the council also received a plaque in recognition of their help for Hurshel Hunter and Plymouth FOP Lodge #195 in raising supplies and notes of support for two area soldiers — Seth Hunter and Chad Martin — who are both in active service in Iraq.
The drive to raise simple supplies such as toothpaste and sun block will continue until just after July 4.
WTCA-AM 1050, Watson’s City News, Gray’s Diner and BP are collecting the donations.