STUMPED - Tall trees in front of the historic Wyman Jennings family home in Montrose, were among the trees cut in the effort to protect the power lines from being damaged by trees. However, these tall stumps are not what current homeowner Leo Raymond, nor MDOT Forester Cary Rouse had expected to see. (TCC Photo by Jeanne Marcello) MONTROSE – Leo Raymond, owner of the historic brick home previously occupied by the Wyman Jennings family, was actually fine with Davey Tree service cutting down the two dead ash trees and hollowed out maple in his front yard, along M-57; but not with towering stumps left behind. Davey Tree has been contracted to cut branches and trees that interfere with the power lines.

Raymond told the Citizen that he had a written agreement with Consumers Power to have the trees cut down to ground level. He said, he was later told that MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) wouldn’t permit them to cut the tree down all the way.

MDOT Regional Forester Cary Rouse drove through Montrose on the day Davey Tree personnel had been on the site cutting the three good sized trees. Rouse said she thought it was strange the way the tall stumps had been left in front of the one home; but she figured that was what the homeowner had wanted.

The Citizen contacted Rouse to better understand the situation. “No, that’s not true,” she stated, explaining that MDOT did not tell Consumers not to cut trees to ground level. They were told to work with the homeowners. Rouse mentioned that there had been several problems with the tree cutting operation in Montrose. She wondered if it was a problem with communication and said she would look into it.

Following up on the matter, Rouse determined the trees are not within the MDOT right-of-way. MDOT Spokesperson for the Bay Region Anita Richardson told the Citizen, “The matter is between the homeowner and Consumers.”