Tree compensation

I have read with interest the article about the tree that was moved on June 19. It apparently took 10 hours to move this tree from Ellsworth to Northeast Harbor and some people sat in traffic up to five hours as the whole road was blocked to traffic.

I don’t think Charles Butt can be faulted for his role in this though I do think the other participants whose specific interests were of monetary gain be greatly faulted. The seller told Butt the tree could be moved, the mover told him it could be moved, the person who issued the permit told him it could be moved, as did the state police escort that he paid for. It was not Butt’s job to figure how it could be moved or what the effect on others would be. That was the job of the other people listed above. And, as I indicated, their intentions were affected by monetary gain.

It is said Butt spent $60,000 to buy the tree and to have it moved. Many motorists lost money as they were unable to get to their jobs for a number of hours due to the road being blocked. It would seem only fair that the people who made the $60,000 from the sale and moving of the tree would reimburse the people who lost money due to this fiasco.

Beth Gott

Kenduskeag