The town of LaSalle is fighting a plan by Hydro One to remove as many as 65 trees along a transmission line between Brunet Park and Todd Lane.
But without a proper plan in place and approval by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the town is saying no.
The utility's Forestry Supervisor Jake Zink says he understands the concern but the work needs to be done. "I think it's just a matter of finding that right balance. We have to ensure the reliability of that circuit. It's a critical circuit. And obviously public safety and worker safety is number one. We can't have any hazards on that circuit."
Mayor Ken Antaya is "skeptical" of Hydro One's proposal. "I'm still concerned that once they get there they're going to say, "Oops, my saw slipped", and everything is gone. And you're saying this is an emergency measure. An emergency, to me, is something that occurs very suddenly. This is not sudden. This is something that's been happening for years. All of a sudden now it's becoming an emergency."
Antaya says the trees have become an important feature of the neighbourhood.
He's demanding a proper plan and approval by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Hydro One wants to start the work by mid-April.