Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

WILLOW (KTUU)- Door-to-door asphalt scammers are targeting Alaskans in a number of communities across the state from Fairbanks to the Kenai Peninsula.

In just the past few days, the Attorney Generals office says they've received at least 10 reports from Alaskans who were taken advantage by paving schemes.

According to the Anchorage Attorney Generals office, "the individuals claim that they are knocking because they have leftover materials and are able to pave driveways or sidewalks for a discounted rate. They cite a price that is attractive to homeowners without giving the required written notice that the homeowner has a right to cancel any written or verbal contract without penalty for five days."

Back in June, a paving company that called itself 'Edwards Asphalt,' showed up at Robin Edgell's home in Willow, offering her a $10,000 load for half price, to pave her driveway. After one day of paving, the pavers came to collect their fee.

"They told me $4,750," said Edgell. "We went to the bank, I got the $4,750, and they said 'No, $47,500.' And I simply went into a shock. I walked back into the bank and got a cashier's check. And then they came back the next day to finish up and then they sent their 10 year-old son to the door with this invoice."

That invoice was for an additional $24,765. Edgell said even though she knew it wasn't right, she paid her bill, saying when all was said and done, she paid them more than $72,000.

As for the quality of the work, Edgell says her driveway looks awful.

"It's not taken out as far, it's not as thick as it should be and it's never going to dry," said Edgell. "It's always going to be sticky, what they put on here is never going to set."

Edgell showed Channel 2 an invoice and flier given to her by Edwards Asphalt. On it, an address and phone number. We searched Alaska corporation filings and found no business license by the name of Edwards Asphalt. As for the address, 3875 Giest Road in Fairbanks, it belongs to a UPS store that rents out mailboxes. We also called the number, 907-891-3501, only to receive an automated message saying 'we're sorry, the person you're trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time. Please try your call again later.'

Channel 2 spoke the owner of Peninsula Asphalt Paving on Tuesday, he says his crew spotted vehicles with 'Edwards Asphalt' logo on them in the Kenai Peninsula as recent as Monday night.

If you were the victim of this scam you are asked to contact the Consumer Protection Unit Staff at (907) 269-5200 or toll free (888) 576-252.

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Willow woman scammed out of $72k by door-to-door asphalt pavers - KTUU.com

Boulder County Sheriff's Office asks residents to be aware and report suspicious activity

Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Sheriffs Office has received multiple reports of driveway paving scams occurring in our area. The scams often go something like this: There is a vehicle that pulls onto your property and honks, the person says they have leftover asphalt from another job and can give you a really good deal today. They end up only putting down a paper thin amount of asphalt or recycled asphalt they will give you an "invoice" for significantly more money than the original quote and then demand payment.

Here are things to be wary of when hiring a contractor:

If you have had recent contact with someone you believe to be involved in a paving scam, or if you are a victim of the scam, please contact Detective Dillard, with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, at 303-441-4992.

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Reports of paving scam occurring in Boulder County - Left Hand Valley Courier

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Whether you are looking to spruce up your home or give your pad a stylish overhaul this Winkleigh based company has everything you could possibly need.

Winkleigh Timber Ltd and Winkleigh Pine Furniture can be found at Seckington Cross Industrial Estate.

The company has everything you could possibly need to make your house a home.

From paving, patios and driveways to granite worktops, reclaimed wood flooring and slate and stone products.

Deciding on a style for your home can be a daunting task, especially when there is such an abundance of choice on offer.

All of the pine and oak furniture is hand made from scratch by a team of skilled carpenters.

You won't find them on the high street therefore, the can offer affordable factory prices by cutting out the middle man.

They guarantee high quality products and a personal service from all our staff from start to finish.

If you want to make an impression then decorating your driveway is one way to do so.

The company offers a variety of paving and patios to make your driveway divine.

There are different colours and finishes to tempt you including terracotta stable brick, mint fossil tile and tumbled slate cobbles.

Come rain or shine your garden should be a tranquil space you are proud of.

Winkleigh Timber has a host of horticultural items to transform your outdoor space.

There original granite troughs, granite mill stone, slate tables and a cartwheel table. When the sun shines you will have no problems hosting a stylish barbecue for your friends.

The inside of your home should be comforting and inviting. The range of flooring and wall fixtures are just some of the ways you can add a bit of elegance.

Why not have a look at the reclaimed pine boards for a traditional look and feel. Or perhaps the reclaimed railway oak would suit your interior better.

Feature pieces inside the home can really add a sparkle to any room. Winkleigh Timber has items such as marble bath tubs and pine island unit with pearl granite worktops. Key pieces such as these are sure to make you the envy of all your neighbours.

Whether you are looking to deck a whole room out or you just want to add to your existing collection, you will find that Winkleigh Timber also has gorgeous items of furniture on offer.

From dressers to cupboards and butchers' blocks to tables. The quality handmade furniture will last you for years to come.

Once you have chosen all your materials for your home you might want to think about the tools which are best suited for the job.

Winkleigh Timber has everything in place to make the job as easy as possible as well as helping to keep your chosen products in tip-top condition.

There are a variety of products on the website to help make the job stress-free. There are slate finishing kits, builders' cleaning solution, hard wax oil and terracotta wax.

For timber and stone items contact 01837 83573yardsales@winkleightimber.co.uk

For furniture contact 01837 83832Email:furniture@winkleightimber.co.uk

You can also browse the site to see the range of items in stock where the helpful team are on hand ready for your questions.

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Sponsored: Five ways you can improve your home with Winkleigh Timber - Devon Live

Times Telegram

UTICA The New York State Department of Transportation has issued travel advisories for area counties for the week of July 31.

HERKIMER COUNTY

Town of Frankfort: Route 171 between Gulf Road and East Main Street. Motorists will encounter a full road closure with a detour in place due to rock wall repair. The detour will be East Main Street to Cemetery Street/Higby Road to Albany Road to Gulf Road.

Village of Middleville: Route 28 over Maltanner Creek between Route 29 and Park Avenue. Motorists will encounter north and southbound one way alternating traffic with a temporary signal for bridge reconstruction.

Town of Stark: Route 168 bridge over Otsquago Creek between Route 80 and Hoke Road. Motorists will encounter a road closure with a detour in place for bridge work. The detour will be Route 168 to Route 167 to Route 20 to Route 80.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Town of Fonda and town of Amsterdam: Route 5 at Stoner Trail Road in the area of Tribes Hill. Motorists may encounter shoulder closures due to the installation of conduit and signal equipment.

City of Amsterdam: Route 30 southbound ramp at Route 5. Motorists will encounter the closure of the left lane on the ramp with a lane shift due to installation of overhead sign structure foundations.

FULTON COUNTY

Town of Mayfield: Route 30 at Ferguson Road. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place and the speed limit reduced to 30 mph.

Town of Salisbury and town of Caroga: Route 29A between Cemetery Road and Route 10. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to guiderail work.

Town of Rockwood: Route 10 between Route 29 and Route 10A. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to guiderail and culvert work.

Village of Dolgeville and town of Epratah: Route 29 Between Route 167 and County Route 119. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to culvert work.

ONEIDA COUNTY

Utica North-South Arterial Project: Motorists can expect to see various lane closures throughout the project as work starts on diamond grinding concrete pavement. The contractor will also continue asphalt paving operations and prepping and pouring stamp concrete.

Temporary lane closures on the Route 5/8/12 north and southbound passing lanes between Noyes Street and Court Street. Closures will be in for the next two weeks while the contractor reconstructs the center island on the south end of the project.

City of Utica: Route 5/8/12 Arterial at Burrstone Road. Motorists will encounter a shortened deceleration lane for the southbound Burrstone Road exit ramp due to bridge rehabilitation. The speed limit is reduced to 40 mph from Oswego Street to Burrstone Road.

City of Utica: Route 5/8/12 northbound ramp from Burrstone Road. Motorists will encounter a right shoulder closure of the acceleration lane to the Route 5/8/12 Arterial.

City of Utica: Route 5S between Broad Street and Broadway. Motorists will encounter east and westbound passing lane closures due to work in the median.

City of Utica: Route 5A between Schuyler Street and Whitesboro Street. Motorists will encounter lane closures due to road work.

Town of Marcy: Route 49 eastbound at the ramp to Edic Road. Motorists will encounter a full ramp closure on Monday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. due to tree work.

City of Rome: Route 69 between Gore Road and Pinebrook Lane. Motorists will encounter lane shifts due to water line installation.

City of Rome: Route 825 (Griffiss Parkway) between Ellsworth Road and the Mohawk River. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place between Ellsworth Road and the bridge over the Mohawk River due to miscellaneous construction and utility work. Market Street will be closed between Route 825 and March Street until November.

Village of Clinton: Route 233 between Route 12B and Route 412. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with a temporary signal.

Town of Marshall: Route 315 bridge over Big Creek between Bogan Road and Berrill Avenue. Motorists will encounter a full road closure with a signed detour in place due to bridge replacement. The detour will be using Route 12B to Route 20 to Route 12.

Town of Trenton: Route 12 between Route 28 in Mapledale to the Route 12 /28 interchange in Alder Creek. Motorists will encounter shoulder closures and possible lane closures due to topsoil work, median work, driveway paving and sign installations throughout the project area.

Village of Oneida Castle and town of Vernon: Route 5 between Seneca Avenue in Oneida and Sconondoa Street in Vernon. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to miscellaneous construction operations.

MADISON COUNTY

City of Oneida and town of Vernon: Route 365A between Route 5 and Route 365. Motorists will encounter east and westbound one-way alternating traffic with flaggers due to miscellaneous road construction. Minor delays are expected.

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This week's area roadwork projects - Times Telegram - The Times Telegram

HAZLETON Some Hazleton City Authority officials are questioning why Mayor Jeff Cusat backed out of a proposal to have city streets department workers restore streets in Hazleton that were disturbed by distribution system upgrades.

The project, which has been discussed since last February, wouldve given the authority the ability to contract with the city and have its streets department crews make nearly $100,000 worth of street repairs, authority officials said Thursday.

HCA Deputy Director Richard Ammon, who has been in talks with Director of Public Works Frank Vito about paving upgrades, said he was in a state of disbelief after learning that Cusat turned down the authoritys offer to contract with the city for street repairs.

The arrangement would ensure work is available for city streets workers who faced the threat of layoffs earlier in the year, Ammon said.

This started in February, board member John Nilles said. Now, were at the end of July and were being told, Sorry, we dont want to take your money and do it.

Ammon and board member Robert Stefanovich said the timing puts the authority in a bind because it will have to scramble to develop bids for repairing a number of streets in Hazleton and surrounding communities.

Authority board member Dave Sosar,who also serves on council, said the authority is not to blame for the paving arrangement failing to materialize and publicly called on the mayor to present his decision in writing

I dont want someone pointing fingers at this body, Sosar said.

Board Chairman Phil Andras, however, said the authority cannot compel the mayor to present any decision in writing and said that the authority has no choice but to solicit bids.

We tried to help the city, Andras said. Customers are out there hitting (potholes). I dont think they say, This is an authority hole or This is a city hole. Dick is telling us the city is not interested. Lets go out and get a bid.

Cusat said later Thursday that his decision boils down to limited manpower and a fairness issue to taxpayers.

The amount of work they want us to do is substantial, Cusat said. Its more than we can handle.

If the city workforce was tied up on authority paving projects, it would have no time to complete work that city taxpayers have paid for, the mayor said.

If we had more manpower and more equipment, then it would be something that may benefit both parties, Cusat said. ... it would be unfair to the taxpayers not to get our streets repaired while patching holes and road cuts for the authority.

Cusat said hes not about to give the authority any written notice of his decision and said city crews were willing to pave HCAs driveway last year had the authority not backed out of that project.

Streets crews can devote a few days this year to pave the driveway leading to HCAs office and filtration plant, but Cusat said it simply lacks the manpower and equipment for addressing road cuts.

It would bring in a significant amount of money, but it comes at a cost to the taxpayers who deserve to have their streets paved as soon as possible, Cusat said.

Contact the writer: sgalski@standardspeaker.com;

570-501-3586

Excerpt from:
Why did the mayor back out of HCA paving deal? - Standard Speaker

Doing some home renovations this summer? My household which includes three dogs and three cats is currently in the middle of a large kitchen and bathroom renovation. From budgets to delays, remodeling is stressful for people, but it shouldnt have to be disturbing toyour dogs. Whether youre doing it yourself or hiring a contractor, here are a few tips for dog safety during home renovations:

Keep your dogs safe and away from anything dangerous during your home renovation. Photography courtesy Sassafras Lowrey.

Home renovations have the potential to quickly turn your comfortable home into a dangerous place for dogs. Contractors can leave doors open. Dogs can become spooked by construction noises, or become aroused by strangers in their house. Not to mention all the tools and equipment that can cut your dogs, or injure them if chewed or swallowed. To ensure the safety of your dog, never leave him home alone with your contractors. While work is happening, keep your dog crated or securely locked in another part of the house. In the evenings and on the weekends (when work isnt happening), use xpens and baby-gates to segment different areas of the house to keep dogs away from in-progress areas. Be sure your dog is microchipped and wearing a collar with updated and clearly legible tags in case he gets out.

Renovations can uncover mold, lead and asbestos, all of which can be hazardous to you and your dog. Similarly, conventional paint fumes can be really harmful to your dogs eyes, nose and respiratory system. When painting, always keep areas well ventilated with fans, open windows and try to choose Zero VOC paints thatwont negatively impact the air quality of your home. If you are installing new carpeting, discuss off-gassing with your contractor and carpet retailer. New carpets are usually treated with a variety of stain-fighting and fire-retardant chemicals thatcan make your dog (and you!) sick. Allowing the carpets to off gas before they are installed, and laying the carpets using staples instead of adhesives can also help with reducing the chemicals your dog will inhale.

Dogs thrive on routines. Between the dust, noise and disarray of a home renovation, it can be hard to maintain a sense of normalcy but its important to keep up with as much of your dogs routines as you can. Monitor your dog for signs of stress, including any change in temperament, refusing to eat or having accidents in the house. Move your dogs favorite toys to areas of the house not under construction so he has access to things that make him comfortable, and try playing calming music to distract him from any disturbing renovation noises.

A tired dog is a happy dog! Though the added expense can be inconvenient while you are renovating your home, sign up for a new dog sport class. These sessions help your dog burn off some energy, and give him a break from the chaos of the home improvement projects. Also try to plan fun outings for your dog on the weekends hiking or swimming at the beach is a great way for you and your dog to shed some of the stress of the renovation.

A dog learning trick training. Photography courtesy Sassafras Lowrey.

A home renovation is a great time to focus on keeping your dogs brain busy. Trick training will strengthen your bond to each other, and mental exercise can be as fulfilling as physical exercise for dogs. Home renovations are also a primeopportunity to make use of puzzles for dogs to help keep their brains active while confined to only part of the house, and as a distraction to the noise and stress of construction.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Sassafras Lowrey.

Read more about dogs and your home on Dogster.com:

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.

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Tips for Dog Safety During Home Renovations - Dogster.com

WOODLAWN A six page list of projects at Joy Ranch accomplished last week by 120 Chesterfield Baptist Church Association volunteers is merely the visible part of the iceberg a case of the little churches that could.

Association Mission Director Dan Austin said churches involved included Wolf Pond Baptist, Cedar Creek Baptist, Pine Grove Baptist, Cheraw Baptist, Sand Hills Cowboy Church, South Point Fellowship, Wallace Baptist Church, Lee Park Baptist, Highland Heights Baptist (from Kentucky), Mt. Moriah Baptist, and Lower Macedonia Baptist Church.

Austin explained its not just about the numbers of volunteers increasing. Its small churches doing big things. Mission Director Randy Shaw said the group isnt looking at the long game or the number of projects but are in it to win it.

The whole purpose of this is to teach our people biblical principles of servanthood. Its truly going in and finding ways you can go in, encourage and meet needs. In a me generation servanthood is a rare thing. This is why we do it as a family mission thing, said Austin. We want our older generations to teach our younger ones hopefully on biblical principles. Its not about the jobs. Dont get me wrong. We want to have plenty of work to do. We want our children to be involved in ministry and not just sitting and watching mom and dad work or hanging out and playing while others work.

Projects included roofing, pressure washing almost everything on the property, dissassembling the Ark for repurposing as a technical training facility, flooring a bathroom in the girls cottage, remodeling bathrooms, grading for RV parking for volunteers who travel in RVs, a new kitchen door and tile, repairing kitchen subflooring and adding handicapped access.

The volunteers also sang and helped with crafts daily in two local nursing homes during their week long stay. (Everyone arrived last Saturday with some staying until Saturday morning to be sure the projects were finished.) Joy Ranch children ate, worked and fellowshipped with volunteers.

What God is doing here with Joy Ranch is the story. God leading a group here to partner with what he is trying to do in this place is the story. The number of people coming here is not near as big as the children being helped. Getting a family, said Austin.

Mission Director Randy Shaw said the group has served in Kentucky, West Virginia, at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Galax, and in Tennessee. It took a bit of divine intervention in the form of bad weather to point them to Carroll County.

Originally we decided to go down to Florida to Pensacola. We got a group of 18 together and I thought this was going to be a pretty good group. We got everything laid out and were going to do a roof job and I guess the Lord didnt think it was big enough so he sent a hurricane and made it bigger. When we did get it together it was a bigger roof. Thats the way we looked at it, said Shaw. The next year when we went down there we had another hurricane. Same time, same year. So I thought there has to be a reason. Were going to go north till we run out of gas before it gets to us. Weve been going this way every since.

Shaw said he has a good mix of people including electrians, plumbers and carpenters. He said their basic guideline is to fix it right or we wont do it.

The numbers keep going up. Every year I have to put a stopping point or if I didnt it would go on and on. We have to limit. To me it gets overwhelming. Its not the work but making sure I have enough to keep them working, Shaw said. My job when I get home is to share what we are doing and what they can do. My goal is to reach the small churches. They think they cant really do anything but they can. If you can hand out water, we need you.

He said initially it was looking bad this year with the loss of some 30 volunteers (the kitchen staff). He said when asked what he was going to do he told them it wasnt his problem. It was the Lords.

Another church who hadnt come before sent more than 30 people and I got a new set of cooks out of it so it worked out. When they (Wolf Pond Baptist) called they said they had 38 people coming, we dont want to stress you. I said let me stress you. We dont have cooks and they said dont worry about that, said Shaw.

Joy Ranch Executive Director Susan Huxster said the very character of the group is finish one project and look to going the extra mile.

We are so blessed to have the Chesterfield Baptist Association with us. The amount of love, skill and dedication to do the work of the Lord has provided for them is unbelievable. We are greatly indebted to them, said Joy Ranch Director of Development Courtenay Houston.

David Broyles may be reached at 336-779-4013 or on Twitter@CarrollNewsDave.

Chesterfield Baptist Church Association volunteers work to disassemble and stack a building at Joy Ranch nicknamed the Ark. Salvaged materials have been tentatively earmarked for an industrial arts building project to be named in honor of the late Ruby Handy.

Volunteer Tile John Witherspoon mixes a batch of adhesive as he works on a bathroom renovation at Joy Ranch last week. One hundred and twenty volunteers from the Chesterfield Baptist Church Association worked on a variety of projects at the facility.

Chesterfield Baptist Church Association volunteers Evelyn Talbert of Cedar Creek Church and Carol Holmes of First Baptist Church in Highland Heights, Kentucky (in the background) sort reclaimed wood as a structure is torn down at Joy Ranch.

Mel Winstead, pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist paints the trim on a Joy Ranch cottage. Chesterfield Baptist Church Association Mission Director Dan Austin said their improvement efforts last week at Joy Ranch are not about the number of volunteers but small churches doing big things.

Hal Walter of Pine Grove Church in Chesterfield, South Carolina gets to work on laying new flooring at Joy Ranch last week. A large group of volunteers tackled a six-page list of projects ranging from roofing to renovations at the facility. Association Mission Director Dan Austin said the number of volunteers is not nearly as big a story as the number children being helped by Joy Ranch.

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Improvements made at Joy Ranch - The Carroll News

Marcus Larson/News-Register##Duniway teacher Cyndi Havercroft and Principal Hilary Brittan-Lack help students with math problems during summer class.

Of the News-RegisterSixth- through eighth-graders were so focused on math and reading as summer school opened Monday at Duniway Middle School that they may not have noticed the paint, flooring and color scheme.

But Principal Hilary Brittan-Lack and Summer School Coordinator Christy Werst couldnt stop celebrating the improvements.

Its so cheery up here, Werst said of the hallways, where blond wood-grain tile and pale walls were set off with bold purple wainscoting.

Its such a positive feeling, Brittan-Lack added, noting the light and dark gray linen-pattern floor tiles in classrooms will hide dirt as well as be easy to clean and long-lasting.

Construction crews worked hard to complete the classrooms and hallways on Duniways second floor in time for the three-week summer school session.Theyve done a phenomenal job getting it ready, the principal said. Theyve been thoughtful about keeping noise down in the areas where educational staff is working.

Crews are still finishing installation of new composite roofing in the gyms, replacement of the cooling tower, new flooring and lighting on the main level, and application of new paint throughout.

Marcus Larson/News-Register##Workers Tom Fleshman and Tim Simpson paint Duniways halls with the color chick magnet during the summer construction project for the McMinnville School District.

Brittan-Lack said shes especially happy about the new LED lighting outside the main entrance.

Not only is it more energy efficient, it is also much brighter. That will improve safety and make it easier for people arriving for evening events to see where they are walking.

Ryan Ward, project supervisor for CBC Construction, said the work is on schedule. Crews should be finished by mid-August in time for movers to replace books and furniture now stored in other parts of the school.

Construction is also underway at a dozen other places around the district. But Duniway is the first school to put newly refurbished classrooms into use.

Projects scheduled for completion soon include Baker Field, which will reopen this month for sports practice and walking, but still needs restrooms and storage. On the other side of Mac High, workers expect to finish the new career technical center, fieldhouse and expanded cafeteria in time for the return of students in September.

Duniway is one of several schools hosting summer programs this month. About 80 students are participating, including incoming sixth-graders.

Teacher Brett Landman said his students are reviewing math facts, learning multiplication and other skills. Summer classes will make them better prepared for fall classes, he said, which will build their confidence.

Read more:
Refurbished rooms open for summer school - McMinnville News-Register

The Texas Houseadded a potential wrinkle to Gov. Greg Abbott's special session agenda on Thursday, givingearly approval toa bill that would allow property owners to plant new trees to offsetmunicipalfees fortree removal on their land.

The initial 132-11 vote on House Bill 7, a compromise between builder groups and conservationists,is a replica of legislation from this spring'sregular legislativesession that Abbott ultimately vetoed,saying thebill did not go far enough.His preference: barring cities altogether from regulating what residential homeowners do with trees on their property.

I believe we can do better for private property owners in the upcoming special session, Abbott wrote in his veto notice.

Thursday's vote is yet anothersignal that the House is open to charting its own course on Abbott's 20-item special session agenda. Leadership in that chamber wasn't thrilled to be coming back for another legislative session anyway, after putting a fork in this spring's efforts by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Senate to pass a bill restricting bathroom use among transgender Texans.

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The vote also puts the lower chamber atodds with the Senates efforts to take on local tree ordinances, which exist in more than 50 cities in Texas.

The upper chamber narrowly passed a bill on Wednesday that aligns with Abbott's wishes; under that measure, which is opposed by conservationists and municipal officials, cities couldstill regulate tree-cutting on large-scale residential and commercial projects.

A similar version, authored by Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin,is stuck in the House Urban Affairs Committee and it could stay there.

Well, since we passed [HB 7], I dont see it as likely that Ill bring it up, said state Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and the chair of the committee.

State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont and the author of HB 7, said the bill was the result of months of negotiations between developers, conservationists and city officials.He said his bill and laws that go further to undercut local tree ordinances could coexist.

This isnt a Republican or Democrat bill, this isnt a liberal or conservative bill, this is where people choose to live, Phelan said at a Tuesday committee hearing. They know its there when they decide to live there.

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ButThursday's Housevote on HB 7 stoked concerns from some of the lower chamber's mostconservative Republicans, who say theyfear HouseSpeakerJoe Straus is intentionally obstructing Abbotts special session agenda.Straus has repeatedly said he is conducting business in the House as he would during a regular session.

"I support the 20 items on the governor's call and am disappointed that the speaker has chosen to obstruct by stalling and moving bills that are outside the scope of the call," said state Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, who voted against HB 7. He voted in favor of the same legislation during the regular session.

Phelan ackowledges his bill is a compromise but urged the House to act on legislation he said will provide much-needed relief to developers and builders across Texas. The bill must still pass one more vote in the House.

Not everyone got what they wanted, he said.

Read related Tribune coverage:

Dozens of cities and towns in Texas have ordinances aimed at protecting trees. During the special legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott wants to change that. [link]

Before he became governor,Greg Abbottwas asked to replant trees on his Austin property a regulation he has set out to axe during the upcoming special session of the Texas Legislature. [link]

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House approves tree removal bill, breaking from Abbott and Senate - Texas Tribune

Snellvilles mayor and City Council updated an ordinance recently making the penalty for unwarranted tree removal by commercial property owners tougher on the purse strings.

The fine for cutting down trees without permission was previously $356 per tree, per day. Under the new measure, violators will pay $995 per tree, per day.

In spite of Snellvilles long-standing ordinances prohibiting the arbitrary removal of trees, we have recently had some violations of those ordinances, Councilman Dave Emanuel said of the ordinance. While some violators plead ignorance, I believe they were in fact subscribing to the philosophy that its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. It may be easier, but it will become a lot more expensive. We will also be updating all business property owners of our revised tree removal requirements and fine amount. Our intent is not to raise revenue, but to preserve our trees.

For the ordinance is to be successful, residents must notify the city if they see suspicious tree cutting at a local business, noted Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender.

Report suspicious tree removal to Snellville Planning Department at 770-985-3513.

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Snellville cracks down on illegal tree removal with hefty fine - AJC.com - Atlanta Journal Constitution