Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:58:49 -0400
From: Thurman Maness
Subject: Chatham County OKs Duke Energy Cutting My Trees
Way back in November Duke Energy began putting up new lines along hyway 64. My property runs along next to hyway for one thousand three hundred fifty feet. In the mid 1990s, I did not give CPL use of my land as a right-a-way. They put the poles and lines on the hyway right-of-way.
This past November when I was not home, the contract tree cutters cut my telephone line (even tho there was a big yellow sign on the line that said ‘Live telephone line- do not cut’- Then they cut at least 6-8 twenty foot trees on my property. Further down the line, they cut a huge 60 year old maple and felled it into my property and just left it there.
I asked Duke Energy to plant something in place of the trees they destroyed. They pretended to be doing something about it, called me and asked what I would like planted there. I give them some ideas and it seemed to be going in my favor.
Today, Duke Energy’s Mr. Mack Jayger (that is misspelled and I don’t give doodle-squat if it is) – Called me and more or less told me that he (they- Duke E.) have found a “paper” from CHATHAM COUNTY- that give them the right to come on my property and cut anything they want to cut. Chatham County can give Duke Energy the right to cut trees on My property? He said it was an ‘unspecified’ distance they could come into the property. I have my doubts that any such paper or ordinance exists. I would like for Chatham County to show me and prove me wrong.
There was no rhyme or reason to which trees they cut and didn’t cut. They did not follow a true line, or tree size.
Any BRAVE Chatham County commissioner or employee care to comment?
In the meantime, I am working on a message for both Duke Energy and Chatham County- There won’t be any fine or small print. It will be plain and simple. It will be attached to my fence along highway 64- Five miles from Pittsboro.
Thurman C. Maness
P.S. The telephone line is still not fully taken of- The ‘should be buried’ cable has been coiled up on top of the ground for 14 years.