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Resident complains council employee trespassed to trim bushes; council apologizes and changes process
Summary
Resident Teresa Carrano said a town employee trimmed bushes on her property beyond an agreed‑upon length. The council apologized, directed the marshal to be the sole notifier for future trimming and said it will arrange a surveyor review of property lines where similar issues occur.
At the Aug. 27 South Whitley Town Council meeting resident Teresa Carrano said a town employee entered her yard and cut branches and the side of her bushes beyond an agreement that required the town to notify her before trimming.
Carrano told the council the arrangement had been that the town would notify her when limbs needed to be cut back and she would have a few days to address it. She said town workers went onto her property and cut further than necessary. Utility Supervisor Kent Slater and Councilman Brock Waterson issued public apologies during the meeting.
As a policy response the council directed that Town Marshal Mikel Vandevender be the only official to notify Carrano about required trimming going forward, and that the marshal be present if town crews do the cutting so only the agreed length is removed. The council also said it will contact the county auxiliary assistance number and arrange for a surveyor to check property lines in two other areas where the same problem has arisen. The council cited safety concerns that overgrowth was blocking a no‑parking sign and limiting visibility for turning off Market Street.
The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or impose penalties at the meeting; it described the change as an administrative step to prevent future disputes.
