Crews cut down treetops on Ypsilanti Township resident Bill Riney's property
Despite the protests of Ypsilanti Township resident Bill Riney, crews from a Novi-based company were able to cut the treetops impeding high-voltage lines in the area today.
It's the latest action in a months-long battle between Riney and International Transmission Company over the trees on Riney's Edison Street property.
Crews cut down trees along power lines near Bill Riney's home in Ypsilanti Township in June.
File photo
Riney told AnnArbor.com this morning that crews were cutting the trees, and he got up into one of the trees to prevent them. He said four deputies from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department showed up. Riney then said he couldn't talk any longer and had to go.
A spokeswoman with ITC released a statement saying the company partially "executed our easement rights and were able to remove the tree tops that were impeding the safety and reliability of the high voltage lines in that area."
On Monday, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge David Swartz granted ITC access to Riney's property to have the trees removed.
"Ultimately, complete removal of the trees is necessary to ensure the long term safety and reliability of the lines," ITC spokeswoman Louise Beller said in the statement. "The court's decision helps to ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of the transmission grid here in Michigan."
Riney spent about two days in June camped roughly 30 feet off the ground to prevent ITC employees from chopping down white pine trees in his yard. About a month after his one-man protest, the Novi-based company agreed to trim roughly 3 feet off two of the trees, and leave three other large ones intact, Riney said.
But company officials were back in August and offered $10,200 for an easement on his property to allow them to cut the trees. The easement was necessary to protect the lines overhanging the trees and provide access to trim, remove and even destroy trees if necessary, according to court documents.
The company served Riney with a court summons after he refused.
Comments
Otto Mobeal
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 11:22 a.m.
To those who favor buried cables - it is not the panacea for property ownership. Is sounds great, but the utilities don't want roots growing around their cables! That is more dangerous than branches. If they started burying high voltage lines they would be digging up yards and trees to protect the lines instead of just topping the trees.
General Demetrios
Fri, Nov 13, 2009 : 5:49 p.m.
So ITC, has the police protect them while they go in and damage these trees. The whole infrastructure is at risk because these pirates invest nothing in it, while raking in our money. Let's face it, the grid should be modernized so that the residential lines are underground. Instead, I see from their annual report that they decided to spend the money on an $850,000 bonus for their CEO. Are there any lawyers out there willing to sue ITC?
johnqpublic
Fri, Nov 13, 2009 : 1:20 p.m.
AndyYpsilanti: The fact that the government is walking all over people's rights is a hell of a lot more important than some budget issue. I don't know who Riney is, so I don't understand all of the comments on this page, but I've read enough to know that this Judge Swartz is a scumbag in the pocket of the utility company.
AndyYpsilanti
Fri, Nov 13, 2009 : 1:07 p.m.
I love that this guy has gotten like 60 posts, but the topic below, about how Ypsi is facing a 5.3 million dollar deficit within three years, has like 10. Which one is actually important and meaningful?
Went South
Fri, Nov 13, 2009 : 7:58 a.m.
Terrin, I couldn't agree with you more. People love to make fun of anothers misfortune. We have all seen the devastation done to beautiful trees along public right-of-way. Those large lopsided trees, hacked back so growth is forced to one side of the tree. Many people purchase their property for the look and privacy grown trees provide. I only wish all you folks making light of Mr. Rineys situation, could see the before and after of this tree cutting. Maybe you would understand just what joy his surrounding brought to his life. Yes they were only trees, but his trees on his land. Would like AA.com to get some photos of the aftermath of this devastation to these trees.
DagnyJ
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 12:18 p.m.
Awesome comment thread. Awesome story that finally helps get at the root of the problem of trees and powerlines.
Dan Romanchik
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 8:17 a.m.
I found it kind of ironic that he lives on Edison Street.
Steve Hendel
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 8:03 a.m.
Reddog801: (1) No one has the absolute and exclusive right to control access to, and use of, their property. Sometimes the community's 'right' to a reliable source of some essential good (such as electricity) trumps a property owner's 'right' to enjoy free-growing tress located on that property. Too, you may own your property, but not for very long if you don't pay your taxes. Another point-who would pay to put the existing power lines underground? Are you volunteering an X% increase in your (and everybody's) DTE bill for this purpose? Can you imagine the disruption all that digging would cause on your property?
reddog801
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 7:21 a.m.
This is why I have an issues with this story. 1) He has a right to say what gets done on his property. He has the right to protest if someone tries coming in there and do something that he does not feel right. Where does ITC get off telling a home owner they have to cut the tree down because its interfering with their line? Lines don't grow, trees grow. Tree's are one of our greatest resources here on planet earth. Yes I know you can plant another one but that is not the point. The point is that the High voltage lines need to be underground. Tree's have been around longer than ITC's lines(which they recently just acquired ownership of). ITC needs to re-think that out and develop a plan where they can get these lines underground because where there is one that has an issue with it, there will be more.
Realitysage
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 1:37 a.m.
Maybe Mr. Riney should get a job at a bank and become a branch manager....
jcj
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 11:48 p.m.
What has me stumped is why the saps at Ann Arbor.com think this is a story. I can not cedar point for printing it. I you ash me the should leaf it alone.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 11:07 p.m.
I thought he lived in his mother's house. Could have sworn I saw something to that effect this past summer.
fedupwithbs
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 10:52 p.m.
I just saw him again on the news, and now he is threatining to sell his house and move bacause he is so upset. That would be great! Please leave the neighborhood and the entire community! The township would be a much better and safer place without him, he can pack up all his BS on the back of that stupid hotdog trailer that the ignorant look up to.
fedupwithbs
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 10:45 p.m.
It is so rediculous that the media is giving any attention at all to Bill Riney. The only reason that he is putting on this show is for attention. Every election year he runs for a different political office and is hoping that people will remember him when an election comes again. Only the ingnorant buy into his BS. I live in the area and the only time he climbs his trees is when the media shows up and when he did it months ago in the summertime, ITC wasnt even going to cut the trees down at that time, they were just surveying! Again all a publicity stunt! I have also witnissed him hammering nails into his beloved trees in the hopes that when the company came with chainsaws, the nails would break their saws. So he is actually the one killing his trees, not ITC. And to all those people who agree with him and say that the lines should be burried under ground, how do you think they will bury the cables with trees in place? They would have to be cut anyways! Wise up people, dont be ingorant and feel bad for this moron!
movingontoarealpub
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 9:59 p.m.
Thanks for your voice of sanity, Terrin. This story reeks of eminent domain, and it's creepy. The government will team with big business, turning law enforcement and neighbors (the one's not losing *their* property) against you. What a nut Bill Riney must be to protest the government seizing *his* property against his will: He refused the offer, so the judge forced the completion of contract. It's perfectly legal and backed by our US constitution. Bill should just be glad that Big Brother didn't want to create a park, build a mall, or pave a street through his home, 'cause that would've been legal too. It's such a treat to see some of his neighbors rip him to shreds for protesting his rights (or is it really his political affiliation?) while at the same time claiming *he* is inconsiderate of *their* needs. Thanks, Bill, and keep the wheel squeaking so that these actions don't go unnoticed.
Terrin
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 9:11 p.m.
Most of you guys on here appear to be fascists and mean to boot. I hope the government finds it's way into your lives and destroys things you love and paid for. I will be here to cheer it on because it seems that is what you guys like. The reality is corporate greed controls every aspect of our lives, and most people seem to love it. For not much more money then was given in the easement, the lines could have been buried. The reason the federal regulations were passed was because the public utilities lobbied to have them passed. They don't want to pay more to bury lines, and instead would prefer to force private land owners to allow them to cut their trees without compensation.
wmsam04
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 7:54 p.m.
If my power went out because of this nut and his antics I would be upset. He also needs to stop the giving away hotdog campaign gimmick since there is nothing for him to campaign for right now. It's creepy.
a2huron
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 7:47 p.m.
Someone better watch what they are eating with those hotdogs Riney is handing out. Likely to give folks a serious case of the squirts. (Pine intended)
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 5:07 p.m.
I've noticed there hasn't been an outage of more than an hour out here in the country since last summer. I'm glad they're doing more tree-trimming. It was pretty bad in 2007 - seemed like every time someone sneezed, the power would go out.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 4:01 p.m.
These lines are not suitable for placement underground.
johnqpublic
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 4 p.m.
It is disgusting to think that this fascist judge Swartz would grant access to a company that didn't have an easement. That judge should be horse-whipped.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:48 p.m.
lines weren't run underground, that subdivision is about 40 years old.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:47 p.m.
Ypsidweller: Me too; I gotta do some work now, although I couldn't help pecan at the comments. That's the way it (gink)goes.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:44 p.m.
Am lichen this so much, but have to log off. Thanks Bill, we love you.
John of Saline
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:31 p.m.
Fred, the power running through the lines causes heat, which would build up underground instead of dissipating in the air.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:28 p.m.
Mr. P.: Good point; apparently they walnut comment on that.
Fred Posner
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:24 p.m.
I wonder why the lines weren't buried if the argument truly was for a safety/reliability upgrade.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:07 p.m.
Ypsidweller: That's the plane truth. He saw through the nonsense they were trying to palm off. It was just a veneer.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3:03 p.m.
Shoot, if you axe me, Riney deserves a crown. It's clear cut.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 3 p.m.
Funny that the Obama hot Dog man had his trees taken down as a result of the rule from the Obama administration
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:59 p.m.
Ed: Point well taken. Some say big limbs aren't a problem; I don't know how they can lilac that.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:50 p.m.
p.s. sorry, didn't mean to sound holly-er than thou.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:48 p.m.
Ed: That's quite the plum article! But (advice from someone alder if not wiser) sometimes things are not as they a pear.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:36 p.m.
Dunno, but I'm not judging. Olive and let live.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:35 p.m.
I wonder why he split when he saw them coming? Maybe he went to the maul.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:31 p.m.
Ypsidweller: Yeah, really; no one tried to cypress that information.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:27 p.m.
Yew would think he have known it was a main trunk line.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:26 p.m.
Ypsidweller: No, I think you've filled in the planks. And no worries, that doesn't sound sappy; I like acorny remark now and then.
Bruce
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:22 p.m.
As hard as it is for some people, it is necessary to trim trees around power lines. The lack of tree trimming resulted a black across several Midwest states a few years ago. That certainly was a lot of fun.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.
Ypsidweller's hot dog reference is still there. how'd i offend someone w/this? maybe they were vegan? now i'm hungry, coney anybody?
John of Saline
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:19 p.m.
Thanks, Amalie! I was just musing aloud (online, I mean) when I said that (although it's important, as that's the whole reason for the trimming of the trees: safety and keeping the grid going). I've noticed you and your colleagues often answer questions (even rudely-posed ones) quickly.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:17 p.m.
Wood he have stayed up there if the cops didn't show up? He must have been board. I may be going out on a limb on this theory.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:12 p.m.
Ypsidweller: Meh, turns out his bark is worse than his bite. Thanks to AnnArbor.com for this new story; I never get sycamore updates.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:06 p.m.
I'm getting tired of his hot dog gig. He needs to branch out into other things.
Ypsidweller
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 2:04 p.m.
Riney leafs tree. I'm stumped. LB: Get to the root of the problem.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:53 p.m.
Top Cat: Just the usual, some Quaker oakmeal.
John of Saline
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:40 p.m.
It was several weeks ago, the lines that cross Marlpool near its eastern end; they continue south to cross Willis. My dad saw a resident arguing with crews on Marlpool.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:21 p.m.
treetowncartel: yes, that's a larch part of the problem.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:19 p.m.
Ihope the comments stay, Mr. rinney's doings just invites sarcasm.
John of Saline
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:18 p.m.
Wonder when they'll be able to energize those lines again. They've been trimming under high-tension lines in Saline, too.
Laura Bien
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:08 p.m.
I was on pines and needles awaiting this outcome...but now I think he should be grateful fir the electric company sprucing up his property. That's deciduously better. They kick ash. I know that's not a poplar view but oh well. Life's a beech.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 12:57 p.m.
If ITC really wanted access, they should have dressed up their employees as a motorcycle gang. I don't think he'd take one of those on again.
djm12652
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 12:50 p.m.
dading...funny, see ya at Sam's this weekend? He's ususally there!