In retrospect on day #1 I should have taken the keys from their truck; returned to my house, and call the police; and photo them on my property. I thought of shoving a floor car jack into the chipper while it was running.
On Saturday, 7 Jan at 8:15 A.M. I was awakened by my dog barking and sounds of large trucks. I looked in my paved driveway to see a large asplundh truck with tree grinder trailer backed onto my private driveway. Two workers were firing up the chipper while others were dragging trees and branches across my lawn to my driveway to be chipped. They were about 30 feet from my house. I couldn't have driven off my own property if I wanted to. There was another truck parked adjacent to the driveway, orange cone deployed, with it's workers cutting trees. Tree limbs all over the place. Asplundh had just set up a chipping operation in my driveway 30 feet from my house without so much as a how-do-you-do!
I exited my house and approached the chipper operator. I made a slashing motion across my throat indicated I wanted them to shut off the chipper. The "supervisor" rolled his eyes and waived his hands indicating to me he was ready to be approached by a rude land owner. They shut off the chipper. I then yelled, "Who in the F_ck do you think you are? You are on my driveway, It's just after 8 on a Saturday morning, my wife just got to sleep, and you are doing this right next to my house? Why can't you do this on a weekday? Why can't you ring the doorbell and ask if what you are about to do is ok? I want you to get to h*ll off of my driveway right now, I am calling the police." The guy asked if it was ok to come back Monday. I said it was, but not on my driveway. I then went inside and called the Bucksport Police Department (207) 469-7951 and spoke to Officer Bishop. He said he was on his way.
The operation stopped and both trucks moved one street west to access the same power-line from the western side.in 15 minutes they were all gone. The police responded and had advised them to come back at a more appropriate time.
On Mon, 9 Jan Asplundh crew returned onto my private driveway. There is no easement or right of way for utility access to use my driveway. The truck, chipper, and Asplundh employees have no lawful right to be on my driveway. They did it because they were lazy, had no concern for damage to private property, and knew I was not at home. They came onto my driveway and parked less than 10 feet from my garage. My driveway marker was broken off and left where it fell, there was sawdust and wood chips all over. The garage white metal trim flashing had a dent in it. My truck was parked in my driveway and had a layer of sawdust on it. Wood chips went way over to my steps. The paved drive had aggressive rubber tire turning marks/tracks on it. The driveway was coated by a sealant company last June. I'm not sure of driveway damage due to the truck weight. Asplundh was told not to do this, but did it anyway, so this was intentional by Asplundh, so any liability is theirs. I called the police. The responding Officer is a neighbor who saw the trucks today. The Police are to take care of trespass actions and are to contact your crew as they are still operating in Bucksport.
I requested Asplundh contact me and provide confirmation Asplundh will no longer place any equipment on my driveway or private property for any reason. I reserved the right to file a claim against Asplundh if my driveway falls apart next spring because of the trucks being on it and any other damages.
On a personal note I would like to add the mess Asplundh left after cutting operations looks like a hack job. There were trees left (some are logs) under the power line area. Asplundh should be proud of the mess they made.
When comparing Asplundh's work with the prior contractor's, Asplundh's is pretty bad. I wouldn't recommend Asplundh to anyone. Maybe a big sign indicating "Asplundh At Work" next to the hack job results would be an honest advertisement. I'm very disappointed, this is no way to run a business.
0 comments