To the editor:

In regard to the editorial “New greenery” (Jan. 16) and the Public Forum “Protecting trees” (Jan. 26), I certainly hope the tree types such as oaks, maples, gingkos, sweetgums, as mentioned in preference to Bradford pears, weren’t planted in the median strip from Crestline to Kasold on Bob Billings Parkway.

There is a 12,000 volt electric line running down that median. If those trees reach that line height, Westar, not the city Forestry or the Parks and Recreation departments, will have to maintain them. That will add to the cost of operation that Westar will pass on to the ratepayer per the recent ruling by the Kansas Corporation Commission. Trees in power lines interrupt service to a wide area, not just the area they are located in. Nights and weekend overtime paid during storm outages also add to the costs.