Soap Lake prepares to sue over trees

Several trees cut down at camping site

SOAP LAKE - The City of Soap Lake is preparing to file a lawsuit for damages done to a primitive campsite near the Soap Lake RV park.

Last August approximately 25 trees located at the campsite on state Route 17 were cut down with a chainsaw, Soap Lake City Attorney Jim Whitaker said in an interview.

The remnants of the trees were left scattered throughout the campsite, blocking several spaces.

He said the trees were cut down by a family member of the owners of a next-door resort in an effort to obtain a better view of the lake. A family member was left in charge of the resort at the time, Whitaker said.

Since the trees were cut down, the city sent several notices to the resort owners advising them to clean the spaces and replace the trees, he said.

"They have ignored, missed appointments and not done what they said they would," Mayor Wayne Hovde said at a council meeting.

Whitaker said the property is leased by the city from the Samis Land Company for public camping. During a previous council meeting the city accepted the assignment of a claim from the land company to proceed with a potential lawsuit.

Nothing is filed in court yet, Whitaker said.

The resort owners will be contacted once more before a lawsuit is filed.

Whitaker said the cost to replace the trees is estimated to cost approximately $150,000. He said Washington state law allows the city to multiply the estimate by three for additional timber damages. The funds collected would go toward the campsite.

At the April 2 council meeting, council voted 6-1 to move forward with attempting to obtain restitution.

Councilmember John Hillman voted against the action.

During the May 7 council meeting, Hillman maintained his vote while Councilmember Marina Romary sent a letter to council in her absence changing her vote.

In her letter she advised she no longer supports the city moving forward with the legal procedure.

"Although I am sorry we have the trees gone, I've changed my mind about suing the owners," Romary stated.

She said the resort owners should apologize to the city and clean up the trunks and limbs from the campsite in lieu of a lawsuit.

Councilmember John Cline said he is in favor of restoring the campsite through a lawsuit to send a message to others they can't be doing something similar without recourse.

"I disagree from the standpoint that we have a new business owner that moved into town," Hillman said. "They invited some people here to see their new purchase, their future livelihood. It's not going send any message to anybody other than stay the hell out of Soap Lake or they'll sue you one way or the other."

He said he is in favor of having the trees replaced but does not want to go the route of a lawsuit.