Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment FreemanFor filing Shanna D. Kuhlemier, CMC District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager [cid:image001.jpg@01D690D2.6413A7F0] 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, CA 96161 P: 530-582-3980 www.tdpud.org<http://www.tdpud.org/> At The Truckee Donner PUD, we believe in: Safety – Safety is our way of life! Communication – Send and receive Integrity – Honest and ethical! Accountability – Own it! Timeliness – Meet our goals and commitments! Work Life Balance – Work hard, play hard! From: Shanna Kuhlemier Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 4:45 PM To: Brian Wright Cc: 'Steve Gross' Subject: FW: Why no notification of telephone pole pesticides? The following was submitted just a few minutes ago. Shanna D. Kuhlemier, CMC District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager [cid:image001.jpg@01D690D2.6413A7F0] 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, CA 96161 P: 530-582-3980 www.tdpud.org<http://www.tdpud.org/> At The Truckee Donner PUD, we believe in: Safety – Safety is our way of life! Communication – Send and receive Integrity – Honest and ethical! Accountability – Own it! Timeliness – Meet our goals and commitments! Work Life Balance – Work hard, play hard! From: Kathy Freeman [mailto:kfreeman00@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 4:33 PM To: Shanna Kuhlemier Subject: Why no notification of telephone pole pesticides? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Truckee Donner PUD. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear TDPUD Board Members, I called customer service today to make a complaint about this, but I am following that up with an e-mail to you so you are aware of my concerns and questions. Today I went out in our backyard to find a worker from a TDPUD contracted company (it may have been Osmose, but if I am incorrect, I do apologize) working on the telephone pole immediately next to our property line. He explained that he and two other crew members were treating the pole by placing pesticides in the pole and placing pesticides in a hole dug in the ground near the pole to prevent damage from termites and other insects. I explained we have two dogs, and one is a 10-month-old puppy. When we let the dogs out in the backyard, both dogs often head right to the telephone pole area since it is so close to the end of our property line. I asked him if these pesticides could hurt or kill our dogs, and he said yes. He then told me a story about a dog that had died immediately after ingesting the poison. After voicing my concern, his supervisor agreed to put the poison in the pole and in the hole, but not in the topsoil around the pole because of our dogs. While I appreciated this, I have to wonder why the TDPUD did not notify residents about this pesticide pole project ahead of time. Like many Sierra Meadows residents, our yard is unfenced. While we supervise our dogs when we let them out in the backyard, we never worried about them possibly being poisoned from a nearby TDPUD telephone pole. Now we do. Today has left me with questions I hope you can address: Can you please let me know exactly what chemicals were used as well as the chemicals' toxicity? How long do these chemicals last once they are in the ground? When is it safe—or is it ever safe—for people and pets to be around these poles once they have been treated with these chemicals? Why weren't residents notified ahead of time? Will you notify residents now? Thank you for listening to my concerns and getting back to me. Perhaps your board also could consider splitting the cost of fencing with residents who now have to fence their yards because of poison in and around an immediately adjacent TDPUD telephone pole. Sincerely, Kathy Freeman 10578 Red Fir Road Truckee, CA 96161