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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: April 12, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Forest Service Road 4517 <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff Pursue Right of Way Establishment <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff pursue establishing Forest Service Road 4517 as County right of way. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Forest Service (FS) Road 4517 serves the Big Creek headwater area. <br />• The road is the only road capable of providing secondary access to all single <br />family residential behind the Bureau of Reclamation main canal at the end of <br />Lund Lane. <br />• Numerous easements exist over the route. <br />• Providing a perpetual easement is granted to the County, Public Works (PW) <br />suggests pursuing establishing county right of way over the road. <br />• The action is consistent with adopted 20 -year planning objectives and supports <br />recent effort by the Fire Chief's Association securing secondary fire flight routes. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Securing fire flight access roadways is a priority as described in the County's adopted 20 - <br />year transportation plan ("Goals and Policies" attached as EXHIBIT 1). FS 4517 is an <br />existing road that could easily provide secondary fire access to the Big Creek area. <br />Recently, responding to requests from the Public Lands Committee, PW has been <br />researching, surveying, and establishing public rights of way ensuring access to state and <br />federal lands (Revised Code of Washington 36.81). <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Pursuing a perpetual easement over FS 4517 meets the legal requirement for PW <br />establishment of public right of way. Once established, PW will designate the road as <br />primitive pursuant to RCW 36.75.300 (attached as EXHIBIT 2). This action is consistent <br />with recent establishment efforts and provides ongoing support of Fire Chief's <br />Association efforts identifying and securing fire flight routes in Upper County. <br />FISCAL IMPACTS: <br />PW suggests budgeting initial roadway grading efforts in the 2022 maintenance budget — <br />providing the right of way establishment is pursued this year. <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2021 <br />