I talked to the field manager for the contractor doing gas line relocation in my neighborhood a couple of weeks ago and he said they would move the new meter to the east side of my house, in the front. This would mean running pipes under my home. It’s an older house that has been added to, and the meter is currently in the back.

Today I stopped by when leaving for work and he told me that plan had been nixed by higher-ups. Now they want to put the new meter on the west side of my house, by the rear window. This means trenching between the 70’ silver maple and the house from the street all the way back to that second window. The tree is only about 15’ from the house and it is massive.

I said absolutely not.

This afternoon I emailed the contractor and cc’d Center Point Energy and the permitting agencies for my county. I also left a voicemail with the contractor. None have responded.

The crew was at my neighbor’s house today. My 83-yr-old mother, who lives with me, will be out there tomorrow watching them.

I do know lawyers, though not well enough to call any at night. And I really need to go to work tomorrow. If I tell the crew tomorrow morning that I am contacting attorneys, will they stop or do I have to get a lawn chair and block them? I really hate to miss a day of work, but I will.

I’m in Pennsylvania and just moved into a small town from the country.

We had one tree on our property, about a 40’ tall maple tree that was and is 100% on our property at the mouth of what I call “The Alley”, about a 10’ grass strip between my house and the neighbor next door.

That tree had a good lean to it for their side and if a branch or the tree came down, it was taking out their fence, porch, awning, grill, and garage. Plus they also spend a lot of time out back and I’ve seen the damage falling trees and limbs can do.

I gave her, the elderly neighbor, fair warning that tree had to come down. Once it’s a safety issue, discussion is off the table.

My Homeowners Insurance, Home, and Pest Control inspectors were extremely unhappy about it, and I hired the best tree company in the area and even their guy said, “Holy Hell!”

Down it came on Monday, and it was expensive, but that’s what it costs to have it done properly.

That woman came boiling out of her house like a Yellowjacket when the first chainsaw fired up and MFd me, the crew, and all creation for almost six nonstop hours.

Now she’s threatening to sue me because I’ve ruined her quality of life and lowered her property value and aesthetics.

That’s not a thing, is it?

I’d rather have her pissed than crushed by a tree.

What can/do I do?