Inquirer: Dangerous trumps ugly every time
We have a slightly unusual Inquirer this week, in that it's one that I came upon on my own. (Do I have to do EVERYTHING around here?)
Technically, I had some help because it was while I was investigating a complaint by Concerned Reader Barry that I came across a more serious situation.
Barry wrote to tell me about some unsightly overgrowth along the fenced right of way surrounding parts of The Country Club of Columbus golf course.
"I emailed the right of way department some time ago about the growth along the north side of Country Club Road extending west from Hilton Avenue. They went out and mowed the grass but nothing else. There are vines of wisteria, etc. and many volunteer shrubs and small trees all of which are unsightly.
"Some neighbors across the street have cleared that portion of Country Club across from their houses (you can see what a difference it makes) but the city has done nothing for a very long time to clear the jungle. If you have nothing better to do, I'd appreciate your taking a look."
As it turns out, I had nothing better to do, so I went and had a look. And it was as I approached Country Club Road on Hilton heading south, I noticed something more important than renegade wisteria (which would make a good name for a band, by the way). Approaching the intersection of Hilton and Country Club in that direction, a large hardwood has grown out over the road to the point that you cannot see the traffic signal until you are practically upon it.
So then I took a right and saw the renegade wisteria Barry was talking about and thought, "Meh, as eyesores go, I've seen worse." But I'll see what the city says.
Proceeding down the winding hill that is Country Club Road, approaching Cherokee Avenue, I was again surprised to see that the traffic signal there is obscured by a large magnolia that has grown out over the street. If anything, it's worse than the problem back up the hill.
Ugly is one thing, but dangerous is another, so I decided (sorry Barry) that the obscured signals warrant the city's immediate attention.
So I called Scott Jones, the city's Urban Forestry and Beautification manager, who is in charge of the city's trees. Jones said he didn't think anyone had called in a work order on the problems (except me) but he would write up a couple and send a crew out first thing Monday. Seeing as how I called him late Friday and he was actually off work and he answered my call anyway, I'm good with that.
Meanwhile, drive carefully.
This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Inquirer: Dangerous trumps ugly every time."