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Show IV X Hears Throe Noise Barrier Plans By MARK D. MICKELSEN WOODS CROSS For a handful of Woods Cross homeowners, trees planted strategically along Interstate-15 Interstate-15 might someday serve as a noise barrier between them and the sleepless highway. AGAIN advertising his committee's com-mittee's drawnout effort to help clean up the city, Forster Betts, beautification chairman, chair-man, mapped out a plan before the city council last week that would align almost 300 native ' juniper trees in an area between be-tween 1550 South and 2000 South. The planner explained that there is a l.CXXVfoot section near 625 West on the frontage road where the houses look (Continued On Page 2) IX Hears Sorrier Plans (Continued From Page 1) onto the freeway. He suggested sug-gested that fhe city cut a strip about three feet wide along the section the beautification committee com-mittee can plant the trees, which grow to 20 feet and will eventually provide a sound barrier for the residents there. THE COMMITTEE needs, he said, about 200-300 trees at a cost of approximately $200-$300. $200-$300. several rolls of black plastic at $160, and possibly several no-parking signs to keep out drivers and motorcyclists. motor-cyclists. - Mr. Betts said the trees are "native to the area and drought resistant," and added that their location near the highway will not interfere with the roadway or traffic. LOCAL residents living near the area have, according to Mr. Betts, volunteered to do most of the planting if the project pro-ject can be approved. He said the only problem will be watering the trees, but explained that the variety to be used requires very little mois-tuie mois-tuie an can be maintained with a watering once a month in July and August. He suggested that maybe people will volunteer volun-teer for the vearlv watering as well.' THE ONLY real problem w ith maintenance of the trees, Mr, Betts noted, is if salt from the highway sprays them during dur-ing the winter. To avoid this, he said the trees will be kept as far away from the highway as possible. The trees come complete w ith a tw o-year lasting fertilizer fertiliz-er pellet which Betts says the trees only need a small amount of. The trees were recommended recom-mended by several local and state forestry agents as the best to be used for the project. MR. BETTS said there is about ab-out six feet from the road to the ! fenced area where the junipers I will be planted. Located only ! about a foot apart, he said the trees will eventually grow '; through the fence. He asked the council to dig j . the ditch approximately three to six feet deep, and taper it on ' both sides so that water can i accumulate in either direction. THE PLASTIC underlining ! w ill be used to retain any ex- I cess dirt, keep water available ! for the tree and act as a protec- ; tant against vandals or high- i way salt chemicals. Mr. Belts ! told the council Tuesday that j - money has been allotted for j like projects. ! He received general support for the effort, but was asked by i ; the council what steps should ; be taken to insure the safety of i the trees. ! MANY OF councilmen in attendance suggested that no-parking no-parking signs be placed along the planting row so that people are aware that something has been planted. There was some concern by the group that someone on a motorcycle could ride along the strip without ever knowing trees were being cultivated below. be-low. To combat such a disaster, disas-ter, Mr. Betts suggested putting put-ting in dirt bumps every couple fee to discourage the bikers. THOUGH Councilman Terrell Ter-rell Bird warned against a decision deci-sion until the total cost is known, the council, with only four present, voted to approve the proposal by Mr. Betts. Their decision, summed up by Ralph Argyle, mayor pro-tern, pro-tern, was made because the trees must be planted by the fall season for best results, and because the money had been budgeted by the city for the project. MR. BETTS, seemingly happy by the agreement, explained ex-plained to the council that if the residents plant the trees themselves, and expend their own energy, they will be more likely to protect the investment. invest-ment. As an added sound barrier, Mr. Betts said he would eventually even-tually like to see a row of shrubs planted in front of the trees. IN A RELATED item, the council council complained that too many trees have been planted throughout the city which do not comply with pruning and safety ordinance? set up to protect residents Sidewalks, as well, have been damaged by the planting of trees which do not correspond with city gardening codes. Mr. Betts told the council that there are presently over 400 trees in the city which either need pruning or are a definite hazard to joggers and passersby. To contain the element ele-ment of danger, Mr. Betts' committee has put together a small booklet with pruning ideas for household trees and shrubs. HE SUGGESTED that the city send one of it's workers back to a pruning school in the east so that the community has someone who can sufficiently handle the city's ow n trees. He said hazardous trees are planted on city property as well and should be taken care of to decrease dangerous conditions. con-ditions. The council was in agreement agree-ment that no trees should be planted on corner areas where their presence might block the vision of oncoming motorists. This problem, according to the council, has been monitored through local ordinances, some of which are outdated or difficult to enforce. IN A UNANIMOUS vote, the council did give approval to Mr. Betts for the dispersal of his booklet. No mention was made, however, as to whether or not a city worker would have a chance to go to the pruning school. Mr. Betts said the state has money available to send the individual back, and the city would only have to pay for the worker's time. |