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Dumped Oak Tree Sections Leave Residents Stumped

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By RONNIE BLAIR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 3, 2008

QUAIL HOLLOW - QUAIL HOLLOW - Melissa Clay couldn't quite believe the sight that greeted residents in the Quail Hollow Pines subdivision Wednesday morning.

One lane of Lawrence Avenue was blocked by the chopped-up remains of a massive oak tree, including three sections of the trunk more than 3 feet in diameter.

"It was just amazing to wake up and see this on your street," Clay said as she stood near the stack of oversized kindling that was forcing drivers to swing into the other lane and partially off the narrow road's pavement.

It's unclear where the tree came from. Residents figure whoever cut it down chose Lawrence Avenue as a convenient dumping ground because the east end of the road at Pine Lands Drive is devoid of houses, although one is under construction.

The late-night debris dumper didn't drive away undetected, though. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office received a complaint about the dumping between 11 p.m. and midnight Tuesday, sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said.

The caller saw a truck driving away from the scene, and investigators had a possible suspect, Doll said Wednesday.

He said it's common for the sheriff's office to receive calls about illegal dumping. The crime happens across the county.

"We investigate them all the time," Doll said.

Clay is hoping the sheriff's office is successful tracking down the culprit. In the meantime, though, she's concerned about cleaning up the debris on Lawrence Avenue.

She called Pasco County government for help but said no one wanted to come out. That's because Lawrence Avenue is a private road, so the onus is on the residents to clear the street.

Clay is frustrated because removing the oak - especially the mammoth pieces - will be no small job.

"We as homeowners cannot remove these stumps," she said.

Mark Teague, who has lived in the subdivision for nine years, said there's a history of illegal dumping in the area. He said someone once dumped the remains of a slaughtered hog.

"We nipped it in the bud for a while, but it's getting bad again," Teague said.

The oak tree debris stands out in its size, though, because usually it's "just small stuff," he said.

"I try to keep an eye on people dumping," Teague said. "We have a lot of vacant land up here."

The oak might not go to waste.

Teague said he is thinking about salvaging some of the wood for his fireplace.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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