A pair of unlicensed contractors were responsible for damage to power lines last month that forced the closure of the Jeffrey Gate and prompted hours-long power outages for residents on the Historic Side.
On the afternoon of Aug. 24, the two men were using a chainsaw to cut down a palm tree in the 500 block of Tarrson Boulevard when the falling tree took out power lines along Griffin Avenue.
When Lady Lake police arrived to try to determine what had happened, the two unlicensed contractors told conflicting stories and tried to blame each other, according to an incident report.
The men had not acquired the proper permit from the Town of Lady Lake for the tree removal. They had been hired by the homeowner after he saw them doing work for a neighbor.
On that sweltering 90-degree day, four Duke Energy bucket trucks arrived to try to restring the wires. Many residents of the Historic Side were without power for hours. The Jeffrey Gate was closed due to downed live power lines. Several Lady Lake patrol cars were on scene to prevent residents from accidentally straying into the area where the downed power lines were located. Another traffic accident took place due to the distraction.
Earlier this year, the Town of Lady Lake adopted a program in which reputable tree workers can register with the town and obtain discounted tree removal permits if they meet the standards set by the town. The names of those registered contractors are provided to town residents. You can learn more about that program, and reputable contractors HERE