Value of trees on Selah property debated

Because negotiations failed, a jury will now decide the value of five century-old trees in Selah.

Opening statements were given Monday in Yakima County Superior Court in a case involving Selah resident Maxine Schreiner and Yakima County. The two parties have long debated the value of a 35-by-165-foot strip of land in front of Schreiner’s home at 1100 Selah Loop Road.

The county acquired the land through eminent domain to make way for a $6.2 million road-expansion project. With eminent domain, public agencies are legally allowed to acquire a citizen’s private property for public uses, such as railroads, utilities and highways.

Schreiner gave the county permission to take her land for the road project but was unable to come to an agreement with the county over how much compensation she should receive for the property.

The county’s attorney, Ken Harper, maintains Schreiner should be paid $42,500. This amount would cover repairs to her underground irrigation system and septic system. It would also replace her retaining wall, driveway and portions of her sidewalk and steps, he said.

But attorney Jamie Carmody said this offer doesn’t take into account landscaping features on her property. This includes shrubs, a mixture of five century-old maple and sycamore trees, and the original pipe-rail fencing that once surrounded Selah Central School. The school operated on Schreiner’s property from 1910 to the early 1940s. The trees were removed last winter.

“She has to be made whole,” Carmody said. “The only evening device is money.”

Although Carmody did not mention a dollar amount in his opening statements, Schreiner said last fall she was seeking a six-figure settlement.

When completed this fall, Selah Loop Road will become a four-lane street complete with sidewalks, curbs, gutters and bike lanes. Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Goodlander and Selah Loop roads, and a roundabout will be built at the Gore Road intersection to ensure smooth traffic flow.

The attorneys expect to deliver their closing arguments in the next few days, with the jury making a decision either late this week or early next week.

• Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.