Resident urges Mason County to reinspect trees near Pecomish Valley Road after permit denial

MASON COUNTY, Wash. — A Shelton-area resident told the Mason County Board of Commissioners Sept. 16 that multiple mature cottonwood trees on an adjacent property threaten his home and family and said the county’s tree-permit decision left safety concerns unresolved.

Bruce Zook, who identified his address as 940 West Pecomish Valley Road and said Hunter Farms owns the adjacent property, described six to eight cottonwood trees about 70–80 feet tall that he said are failing. Zook said long limbs measuring 20–25 feet snapped and fell during calm weather and that the root structure on the northerly side of several trees is exposed due to an adjacent slough.

Zook said he spoke with Hunter Farms, which had agreed to remove trees, and that he subsequently spoke with county tree-permit staff. He said the county issued permission to cut only two of eight trees and that a forester had said another forester would be sent to re-evaluate the site; Zook said he did not receive the promised follow-up and that the 10-day response timeline mentioned by staff had not been met.

Zook asked the board to send another county forester who will come onto his property and meet him in person to inspect the trees. "They need to be taken out because when they do go, my house will go," he said in describing the risk to his house and to a 60-year-old black walnut tree on his property.

After Zook’s remarks, a commissioner invited him to stay after the meeting so staff could collect contact information and follow up; commissioners also pointed to front-desk cards and direct phone contact as ways to reach county staff. No formal action or vote was taken; the record shows a commitment from commissioners’ office staff to follow up with Mr. Zook after the meeting.

The comments were recorded during the public-comment portion of the meeting and were presented as a request for county staff reinspection and communication.