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Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
CSD votes to remove tree despite couple's plea
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Photo by Sheri Barile
Rancho Murieta residents Bob and Janet Nicholson ask the Rancho Murieta Community Services District board not to remove a large redwood tree behind their home on Trinidad Court. CSD voted to remove the tree after it was determined that its roots caused a sewer spillage in December.
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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Rancho Murieta residents Bob and Janet Nicholson lobbied for more than 35 minutes in front of the board of directors of RM Community Services District to save an 80 ft. redwood tree standing behind their property on Trinidad Court. (Full coverage of the RMCSD meeting will be in the next issue of RVT). In spite of the Nicholsons pleading their case on May 19, the CSD board voted unanimously to proceed with the tree removal.
At issue for the CSD is a sanitary sewer overflow that occurred last December on the 14th fairway of the North course and a determination that encroachment of the redwood’s roots was the cause. At issue for the Nicholsons is perceived financial and aesthetic impacts in the event of the tree’s removal and dissatisfaction with the way they said RMCSD handled the matter.
Citing repeated discussions and correspondence with CSD staff, the couple expressed concerns about decline in property value, increases in heating and air conditioning costs and exposure to errant golf balls off the 14th tee if the tree is removed.
In a prepared statement before the board, Bob Nicholson criticized CSD staff for what he and his wife see as a hasty decision. “It is our contention that they made quick decisions based on unsubstantiated conclusions as to the cause of the spill,” Nicholson said. “They came out, looked at the spill, the position of the manhole and the location of the tree and said the tree has to go.”
Paul Siebensohn, director of CSD Field Operations, said that CSD has conclusively determined the tree was the culprit in the spill. “We actually did determine that it was that tree that had root intrusion into the manhole,” Siebensohn said. “And we did actually run a camera down the line and didn’t see any other root intrusion except at the manhole.”
Directors emphasized both safety and fiduciary responsibilities. CSD President Bobbi Belton recalled a $200,000 fine levied four or five years ago. “We can’t afford another spill,” she said. “My personal feeling after giving this a great deal of thought is I really have to go with health and safety. We are a public agency and are charged with that health and safety.”
The tree, which stands on RMA common area adjacent to the golf course will be removed by RMA Maintenance Dept. Rod Hart, Maintenance manager, said (as of press time) he had not received official notification from CSD to remove the tree. Once that happens, he will contact the golf course and the homeowners to schedule a date for removal.
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