Brandon Twp.- Some Kent Road neighbors say loggers from a Michigan- based sawmill may have out-chopped their welcome.
Last April Alice and Allan Hines were approached by logger Michael Hackworth of Dansville, Mich. who expressed interest in purchasing some of the older hardwood trees on the adjoining forested property.
After speaking with Hackworth, the Hines and their two next-door neighbors agreed some of the older trees on each of their wooded lots could be removed.
The neighbors concluded that cutting the trees would earn a few extra dollars, rid the forest of some unwanted trees, and improve property value by cleaning up the forest.
Michael Hackworth says during the summer the logging contract was sold to another company before reselling the contract to McCormick Saw Mill near Ludington, Mich. A check for $5,500 was paid to each neighbor in advance for the trees to be removed.
After settling on a contract which included cutting only the 18-inch or larger trees, loggers arrived mid-October and proceeded to cut into the forest’etching a wide road across the three property lines to skid the large trees to a staging area prior to shipping.
After three days of logging–which included shipping out four semi-truck loads of hardwoods’the neighbors realized something was wrong.
?(The loggers) dropped the heavy equipment and proceeded to cut,? said Alice Hines. ‘It was just supposed to be selective cutting’but it looks like clear- cut to me. It’s the worst thing that could happen.?
During the cutting process saplings, low undergrowth, and many small trees were also harvested. Tree-tops and other large branches were left scattered across the forest floor, and several trees left partially cut.
After watching the loggers progress on the combined parcels the neighbors decided to halt the cutting.
One of the neighbors, Ed Burns, a resident for more than 30 years, owns about half of the land that was logged.
‘I assumed they would leave some trees standing,? said Burns, 75. I’m wondering what the Department of Natural Resources would say. It appears (the loggers) had to tear down all the smaller trees to get the bigger ones.?
‘I think they raped us, (the loggers) made a road down there. We now have I -75 going through our woods.?
Michael Hackworth–who initiated the contract–agreed with Burns and the neighbors.
For the past 30 years Hackworth has purchased timber from landowners and sold the contracts to lumber mills within Michigan. He was at the Kent Road site last week to take pictures and attempt to reconcile the issue.
‘I’ve never had a problem with a mill like this before. In our eyes (the loggers) absolutely destroyed the forest,? said Hackworth. ‘I agree with the landowners who pay taxes on the property, the damage is done.?
‘This type of cutting was not the intent of the contract, you just don’t go in there and devastate the land.?
Dennis LaBar, McCormick Saw Mill buyer, says such methods of timber cutting are consistent with other lumbering operations.
‘I think the land owners did not expect that much tops laying around.
‘That type of work is typical for logging operations,? said LaBar, who’s worked in the lumber industry for about 40 years. ‘There were large trees and naturally, we had to make a ‘skidway? through the woods and knocked our way through the area. I think it was all done proper.?
The property owners have been paid for the lumber, says LaBar, who plans to negotiate with the owners to settle the issue.