County staff investigate tree cutting near Crownsey Trail after Weyerhaeuser work; survey and title questions raised
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Summary
Weyerhaeuser reported cutting trees near the Crownsey Trail; county staff said about 5–6 acres may have been affected with an estimated timber value of roughly $120,000 and a potential county net after taxes of about $7,000; commissioners asked staff to verify ownership, pursue survey work and consider a lease, sale or land swap to resolve access.
County officials told commissioners on Sept. 17 they are investigating timber cutting near the Crownsey Trail after a Weyerhaeuser contractor opened spur roads and removed trees that may lie on or adjacent to county-managed trail property.
The matter is significant because staff and the timber company disagree about the precise property lines and deeded rights; Weyerhaeuser provided a rough estimate that about 5 to 6 acres were cut with an estimated gross timber value around $120,000 and a likely net to the county of about $7,000 after taxes and fees, figures staff described as Weyerhaeuser’s estimate.
Riley Bates, general services director, described initial surveying that shows discrepancies between the trail alignment as used on the ground and the deeded description the county holds. County surveyor Nathan Woodford and staff traced the issue to differences between a legal description and mapped lines transferred when the land came out of state forestry ownership.
Staff said Weyerhaeuser has offered to assist: the company is willing to survey, pay cleanup costs and consider a payment to the county to resolve the immediate issue while parties determine whether the county actually owns the cut area. Staff asked for direction to continue working with Weyerhaeuser to complete surveys, confirm title and, if needed, negotiate a lease, sale or land swap that would align the physical trail with county ownership.
Commissioners signaled support for staff pursuing verification and negotiations, but no formal sale or lease was approved at the meeting. Staff noted that if the county owns the land in question it could enter into a lease or sale, or require an easement swap so the trail is definitively in county ownership before sale of timber rights.
Staff will return with survey results and recommended next steps; meanwhile Weyerhaeuser has been asked not to undertake further removal on disputed parcels until the boundary and permissions are clarified.