County, Spare That Tree

One day my family and I drove out to our cabin at Deer Lake. Much to our surprise, we saw the letter C spray- painted on half of the trees that lined our small community road. My 6-year-old son asked what the C’s meant. He later decided the C’s stood for either “county or cut.”

My son was more right than he knew. Stevens County is planning to cut down dozens of trees that are situated 60 feet back from a road scheduled for paving. The homeowners association we belong to voted overwhelmingly to pave the road. In the past, the road has been oiled but the oil would get on our cars and get tracked into our cabins. So we were glad to vote for the paving because it will mean less dust and less mess.

But what we didn’t realize was that the trees would be sacrificed. The reason given was that the trees pose a liability for the county. People run into objects like trees in the county’s right-of-way and then sue. To avoid that, objects - such as trees - are removed.

The one tree in our yard slated for removal is past a mailbox, up a rock slope and behind a wood retaining barrier. In order to hit that tree, one would need a 4-wheel drive, a goat or have had several drinks under their belt. The county also says the trees could be a liability if they fall in the road, but many are far enough back that this doesn’t seem likely.

I am frustrated about the planned tree-cutting for several reasons. The beauty of our development will be altered. People will lose shade in their yards. And it seems unfair that the county can just come in and chop trees down in a neighborhood without, in my opinion, just cause. I have friends in the logging industry who are under such strict government regulations that it makes it hard for them to make a living. I feel like stooping to government tactics and renting myself a spotted owl so my tree will be spared.

I’m still in favor of the paving, and our association officers worked hard to make it happen. But it seems to me there could be a compromise about the trees. For instance, the speed limit on the road could be posted at 10 mph and this would limit any possibility of someone running into a tree. Or maybe they could limit the tree removal to unhealthy trees and those closest to the road.

These beautiful trees, now marked with big, white Cs, remind me of sacrificial lambs being readied for the slaughter. If they must be cut, I hope the county has some noble use of the wood that will come from our trees.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.