Amazing what a letter can do!

[NordicSplitter]

Last year I called my local Highway Superintendent some 12 times and very nicely asked for a few loads of fresh cut wood from their tree removal department. Finally I received one small load of wood. Well this I have taken a different approach; wrote a letter to the Town Supervisor! Below is the letter:
Dear Mary,
Greetings. First of I would like to take a moment and personally thank you for the outstanding job you as well as all of the elected officials have done in their service to the Town of Cheektowaga. Mary the reason I am taking time to write to you is because of a request that I made last year of the Highway Superintendent: Mark Wegner. Now I first want to say the purpose of this communique is not to get anyone in trouble or give someone flack. I know how consuming his position with the Town can be. Last year Mary I contacted Mark approximately 12 times in regards to the possibility of the Highway Departments tree trimming and cutting crew dropping off a few loads of wood for my personal use. You see Mary I heat my home with firewood throughout the winter. I am sorry to say that all of my inquires only benefited my 1 small load of fresh cut wood dropped off. I repeatedly asked to be put on a list for the road crews to know my name and address. Now I will say for Mark’s behalf he continually reassured me that he would tell the road crews of the situation and they would drop off the loads of wood to my address, but unfortunately it just never happened except for that 1 small load. I even went so far as to take a ride over to the barn on Broadway where I was told the wood, after being cut , was taken too. I bumped into a Town employee, a garage mechanic. I asked him about the wood and he told me the wood was stored inside and then will a smile he just said, “And everyone knows that wood is for the Town employees.” Needless to say I was disappointed and well as frustrated. As a lifelong citizen as well as a Tax-payer with an annual tax bill of close to $5000.00, I would like to think that, that kind of nonsense didn't happen. Once again Mary this is not to squeal on anyone or invoke the wrath of higher officials on those under them in the chain of command, I guess to simply put it: HOW CAN I GET SOME WOOD? I even offered to come by after work and pick it up myself, but certain Town codes and laws prevent me from doing that. I am hoping you can help me in this request Mary. Feel free to contact me at your convenience. As I told Mark in the past, just dump the wood on my driveway or lawn and I’ll do the rest. Hopefully I will get more than I small load this year. Thank again for everything.
This letter was mailed Saturday morning. When I got home from work today, in my driveway was a huge pile of fresh cut Silver Maple. Well over a face cord. Amazing what a letter can do!

 

[pen]

I spose, that's one way to do it.

Here's another:

(broken image removed)

pen

 

[mywaynow]

I used the Pizza lunch to make my appreciation noted.

 

[BobUrban]

I would guess a Pen or Mywaynow follow up - depending on what time of day - would yield a continued deposit?

 

[pen]

I would guess a Pen or Mywaynow follow up - depending on what time of day - would yield a continued deposit?

Or at least partially mend the wounds received from the super getting that letter

 

[bogydave]

In NY, it just takes a letter, to have taxpayers pay to have wood delivered ?

1/2 a cord per letter? Write 10 letters = 5 cords.
Cost is: 2 sheets of paper, 2 envelopes & 2 stamps/cord.

Nice score !

LOL

 

[fabsroman]

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about this. Why would you think you are more entitled to the wood than the town employees? If the town employees also live in the town, they would have just as much right, if not more, to the wood as a taxpayer and an employee perk. If I were to have written that letter, I don't think I would have mentioned any names whatsoever. Before writing that letter, I would have done as suggested, and shown up several times with coffee or something for Mark and shot the BS with him and asked if he could drop some wood off my way if they had any extra they did not need. Maybe even given him some free legal/tax advice in passing.

Getting a load of wood right now to appease you is a lot different than getting loads and loads of the prime stuff for years to come. Time will tell how this works out.

Right now, I am doing pretty good with Craigslist and a couple of farm owners I know. However, if need be I could probably post on Facebook and get more wood than I know what to do with. As I told my neighbors today, treat people right and they will do the same by you.

 

[ScotO]

uh-oh. You may have opened up a can of worms here.
What are you going to do when you come home from work someday and there is a couple tri-axles' worth of willow, ailanthus, sumac and basswood laying in your driveway? .

Reverse phsycology........something to ponder!!

 

[rdust]

Once again Mary this is not to squeal on anyone or invoke the wrath of higher officials on those under them in the chain of command, I guess to simply put it: HOW CAN I GET SOME WOOD?

You sure about that? Sure sounds like that's exactly what you were going for. Nice to hear you got a small load of wood out of it but I'd be fearful as Scotty has mentioned. You may soon have more poplar, pine, willow than you care for.

 

[MasterMech]

I guess to simply put it: HOW CAN I GET SOME WOOD?​

Simply put:

Get permission from the landowner/state.
Load the saw(s) into your vehicle.
Cut said wood into manageable pieces.
Load wood into the truck/trailer.
Return to your property and unload.

OR

Check Craigslist/Local Classifieds for firewood dealers. Most areas have 1 or two that would happily sell you all the firewood you need.

Nobody here is getting loads of wood dumped into their driveway for free by whining via letters to elected officials. Stop and talk to tree crews. Make friends. Coffee/doughnuts goes indeed go a long way.

 

[Hawkeye]

Coffee and donuts help - but I've had better luck with this approach:

 

[CT Pellet]

A quick Google search will reveal that this Highway Superintendant Mark Wegner is an elected official. Therefore one can conclude that he is reasonably well liked in the small town of Cheektowaga. Nothing other than common sense and basic life experience tells me that if a man ignores someone twelve times, then there is probably a reason for that. As I read this letter, it only reinforces my feelings.

 

[lukem]

In my experience, when you see a tree crew and you want them to do something for you, this is how the conversation should go:

You - "Hey guys, got a question for ya".
Tree Guys - "Yeah, what's that?"
You - "What kind of beer do you drink?"
Tree Guys - "Mostly cold beer, but XXXX is what I usually drink...hahhaha."
You - "Drop that load at this address and there will be a cold case waiting for you."

Writing a letter to their boss's boss....eh...

 

[tbuff]

Wow, threw half the towns DPW under the bus with that letter.... I would write another letter and tell Mary that you would like the wood split prior to delivery and stacked on township supplied pallets....

 

[tbuff]

A quick Google search will reveal that this Highway Superintendant Mark Wegner is an elected official. Therefore one can conclude that he is reasonably well liked in the small town of Cheektowaga. Nothing other than common sense and basic life experience tells me that if a man ignores someone twelve times, then there is probably a reason for that. As I read this letter, it only reinforces my feelings.

Why does the town owe anyone a special delivery of firewood? Call them and ask where they are working and as MasterMech said, show up with a saw and truck and load up there.

 

[Bocefus78]

I agree with scotty. If you did get the guy in trouble, be totally prepared for (and expect) a giant load of some rotten or basically unburnable wood to be blocking your driveway and covered in poison ivy! You better tell your wife to start parking on the street.

Just because you pay taxes doesn't mean you get to borrow the police cars and fire trucks too, does it?

 

[JustWood]

Western NY politics at ALL levels is filthy. Prolly more so than congress No one got in trouble gauranteed. A muni or county worker here can practically commit mass murder at a convent and get away with it.
Mary told Mark to make this guy go away and he did.

 

[Redlegs]

Just because you pay taxes doesn't mean you get to borrow the police cars and fire trucks too, does it?

That gives me an idea...where's my pen?
I bet a could get a cord or more on top of that fire truck...

 

[Jack Straw]

I have a big problem with the employees getting paid to cut firewood for themselves. I'm not sure what should be done with the wood, maybe they should cut it up and auction it off to the highest bidder.

 

[Stegman]

Why does the town owe anyone a special delivery of firewood?

Yeah, this whole episode leaves a bad taste. It's not so much scrounging as extortion.

 

[tbuff]

I have a big problem with the employees getting paid to cut firewood for themselves. I'm not sure what should be done with the wood, maybe they should cut it up and auction it off to the highest bidder.

I'm guessing they're getting paid to remove trees from areas in which they're a hazard. I don't think they are just going around scrounging while on the clock 8 hours a day. They can always do what they do down here and throw it through a chipper..

 

[Stegman]

No, you misunderstand. I don't mean the town workers are scrounging. I meant that what the OP did doesn't strike me as some sort of opportunistic scrounging.

 

[tbuff]

No, you misunderstand. I don't mean the town workers are scrounging. I meant that what the OP did doesn't strike me as some sort of opportunistic scrounging.

Steg, I was replying to Jack. I understand what you mean.

 

[BrotherBart]

As a former county department head I don't see anything wrong with this. They get that kind of stuff all the time. Now when it comes as a letter to the editor...

 

[mecreature]

The guy that leaves me the cold beer is getting the wood.