A big thank you to the guys in khaki from Gagetown, NB who arrived Sunday afternoon to cut my fallen tree down to size, done in 10 minutes, and neatly stacked curbside all ready for the HRM chipper. BUT I couldn't help wondering what all this Hurricane Dorian clean-up is costing the taxpayer, much of which could be prevented if the municipality seriously rethought its tree-planting policy: On my walks over the weekend, I noticed that almost all of the fallen trees had very shallow roots; our urban environment of concrete and asphalt makes it impossible for trees to send down deep roots. My particular young tree had been planted right into the wires extending from my roof corner and right up against my underground water main. Did we learn nothing from Hurricane Juan? HRM must stop planting trees that grow to be 100 feet high: I suggest that HRM plant trees native to NS that will grow to be no more than 15-to-20 feet high. Everyone will still get their summer shade and carbon-cleaning, but they will no longer be a hazard to people's homes and overhead wires. There will also be a LOT fewer leaves in the fall clogging up our stormwater catch basins, which is a major cause of flooding.
—I Guess I Love A Man In Uniform After All