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By Kevin Harvison
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It’s tree trimming time again
They’re trying to get ready for the worst, while hoping for the best —weather, that is.
Carrying whirring chain saws and being hoisted by bucket trucks, workers with the Asplundh Tree Expert Co. have been fanning out across McAlester.
The company has contracted with Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, which is a unit of American Electric Power, to complete a major project in McAlester.
Its mission: Complete a project to remove overhanging limbs and some growing trees which are near electrical power lines.
A variety of weather can send trees or branches crashing into power limbs, noted PSO Community Affairs Manager Frank Phillips.
“It’s timely because of the ice, but we also have problems with wind,” he said.
The project started with what PSO Utility Forester Leslie Rymer called “manual work” — with workers doing work, often in back yards, where they couldn’t get the bucket trucks.
“We replaced the manuals this week with the bucket trucks,” Rymer said.
Currently eight bucket crews, whose members are actually doing the cutting and trimming, are being followed by three grapple crews, whose members pick up the fallen branches.
Today, the crews were expected to be working in an area ranging from Monroe Avenue to Electric Avenue and Second Street.
“We’re trying to complete a four-year trim cycle,” Rymer said. In addition to McAlester, crews are currently working in Stigler and Calvin, he said.
“We’re looking at being done in McAlester by Christmas,” said Rymer.
“After we get done here, we’re looking at going toward Savanna, Kiowa and Pittsburg.”
Following work in that area, crews are set to work toward Crowder, said Rymer.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.
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