August 10, 2020 – Town of Erin, WI – A daily commute on Hartford’s “Rustic Roads,” can readily be appreciated as a scenic “Sunday drive,” in most cases. Its majestic trees and winding roads calm busy motorists day after day. That’s why travelers come to the Holy Hill Area from all over the U.S, particularly in the fall.
It also explains why you see groups of bicyclists, collector cars, or motorcycles traveling through our peaceful countryside enjoying its rare beauty. However, when potholes and road deterioration detour such pleasure, road resurfacing becomes imperative.
This is the current crossroads of Erin’s Town Board and the residents surrounding Emerald Drive and St. Augustine Roads. Both agree that the roads are beyond sporadic repair.
Both agree that a complete road resurfacing is essential. The problem ensues, however, in the amount of trees marked for removal. As you travel down Emerald Drive you will see trees marked that are well behind mailboxes or utility boxes. Residents have been demanding explanations to what they view as excessive tree removal.
I too want such answers, and am protective of our unique community, although we desperately need a new road.
Recently I attended a town board meeting on July 20, where frustrated residents responded to a prior justification of the proposed tree removal stating that it offered greater ease for snow plow drivers.
This, I observed, did not make sense to the residents, since all of the tree stumps will remain in place and some of the trees marked for removal are up hills located 15-25 feet from the road. Residents were told that the snow plow has to lift its wing too often to allow oncoming traffic to pass if these trees are not removed.
Then why do the mailboxes and utility boxes stay, that are in front of many of these trees, I wondered? And why can’t the town use the snow plow that isn’t oversized, allowing for oncoming traffic to pass while in use? Why must our prestigious rustic road status be at risk, so that the snow plow driver can breeze through the area similar to that of a newer subdivision? As such comments have been posed, it is my understanding that the town board has replied with two points:
1) It is more cost effective to take down many trees, rather than pick and choose or trim. “We can do this, but if we did, we would have to raise taxes,” said a town board member at the July 20th meeting. There was no forum for the obvious rebuttal; that being: How does excess man power in removing a large quantity of trees make sense when compared to selecting fewer trees that obviously interfere with road resurfacing?
2) The road will last longer if there is reduced shade on it. Although residents are sensitive to the costs of this project and want it to last, it is not a given fact that shade promotes greater wear and tear on our roads. There are in fact, studies that indicate otherwise.
For example: In an article entitled, “Effects of Street Tree Shade on Asphalt Concrete Pavement Performance,” by Gregory McPherson, it states that in measuring the tree shade index (TSI) against the pavement condition index (PCI) on 48 various pavement segments, that “the findings were consistent with the hypothesis that tree shade has a beneficial effect on pavement performance.” It concludes, ” A comprehensive understanding of the benefits of tree shade on pavement performance will allay perceptions of street trees as liabilities and help to justify the retention of healthy urban forests.”
(Journal of Arboriculture- November 2005)
Of course it is impossible to have every homeowner, snow plow driver and town board member agree on this issue. But as a proud resident of the tranquil tree-lined area that attracted nationally known Erin Hills Golf Course, I want my input heard in this important decision.
I don’t want to risk losing the rustic road designation that we are all proud of and enjoy so much. Money saved in mass cutting could be used to create a well balanced plan that looks to retain our rustic charm.
It is my hope that this plan would acknowledge the increased speeds and documented accidents on Donegal Road since their road was redone. The results of this plan should then be communicated to the residents that justifies at least the majority of tree removal. Rash cutting for the ease of snow plow drivers or to increase sunlight on roads when this is an uncertain criteria of pavement longevity, is just not acceptable.
With gratitude to our elected town board and for the privilege of living in this community,
Mrs. Janice Marie Meidel
Town of Erin
Please also note:
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