Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nuisance Private Road Walker Road topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walker Road neighbors ask county to help after judge orders cleanup of heavy pallet and junk piles
Summary
Several residents told commissioners a Walker Road neighbor piled thousands of pallets, vehicles and other debris along a private easement; a judge ordered removal but residents say the situation has worsened and they are seeking county help from sheriff, environmental health and fire authorities.
Homeowners from the Walker Road area of northwest Cowlitz County urged county commissioners to intervene after a judge ordered a resident to remove extensive piles of pallets, vehicles and debris from the private road’s easement.
Brad Dutes, who identified himself as a homeowner and taxpayer, told commissioners the material — described in public comment as hundreds to thousands of wooden pallets plus cars, boats, a camper and an antique tractor — is stacked “within inches of the roadway” for roughly 700 feet and poses fire, traffic and environmental hazards for about 64 households that rely on the private road. Dutes said a court ordered the landowner to clear the materials within 30 days following an August 27 hearing; he said more than 35–40 days have elapsed and the piles are now worse.
County staff responded that the county’s role is constrained by the property’s private-road status and that the neighbor dispute was initially handled as a real-property encroachment and easement case in civil court. Staff told the board that the allegation was reviewed and was filed as a real property dispute involving encroachment on an easement; an order of default was entered on Sept. 24 after the landowner failed to answer court papers, and staff said they expected a final judgment to be forthcoming.
Residents pushing for action said they have contacted multiple agencies including the sheriff’s office, environmental health, building and planning, nuisance abatement and the state senator. The county’s representative said environmental health has issued fines and continues to monitor the situation and that a deputy (named in comments as Gladson) and staff are involved. The resident said he and neighbors have photos documenting hazardous conditions and asked the commission to ask the sheriff, environmental health and fire officials to act more quickly.
Commissioners and staff emphasized the limits of county authority on a private road, but said environmental health and the sheriff are monitoring and that staff will continue to pursue available avenues. No new county action or emergency order was taken at the meeting; the matter remained in the complaint and civil-court track described on the record.
Residents said they would return with additional neighbors and photographs at upcoming meetings; staff provided an email contact for submitting photos.
