Some of city's trees being removed

Electric City has taken more of its “butt ugly” trees out.

City work crews have removed several trees that hinder the vision of motorists coming onto SR-155 from city side streets.

The city council, back in March 2013, authorized the removal of a number of what then-councilmember Brad Parrish called “butt ugly” trees. The trees were planted several years ago by longtime mayor Ray Halsey, and lined both sides of the city’s main thoroughfare.

They grew up fast, and many of the trees are now mature and about 10 feet tall.

At critical intersections, the trees obscure vision of oncoming traffic, and the city has been receiving complaints by citizens.

“We took out from 10 to 15 trees because they had grown so tall and wide that they were blocking out visual sight of traffic,” city Clerk Russell Powers said.

The “moonglow junipers” grow to be about 10 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Several of the trees are at their maximum size.

At the time the trees were planted, many were placed in parking places and eventually were removed, or they were damaged by people and then had to be removed.

As trees block vision, they will be removed by the city, Powers said.