Last Friday, Dec. 3, $92,513 in fine and penalties were upheld by the Swinomish Planning Commission against the Shelter Bay Community, Inc. and Steve Swigert, a resident and board member. Swigert removed, without approval, “substantially all of the trees in Rainbow Park and on the greenbelt adjacent to his property” over the 2020 Labor Day weekend, the decision states. Swigert was indemnified – insured against legal action – by the Shelter Bay board of directors in January.

The fine, primarily $80,000 in penalties, was paid in June, but Shelter Bay appealed and their case, w...