2024-02-12-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2024 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: February 12, 2024 TOPIC: Washington State Department of Transportation Vantage Interchange Property ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Offer the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) an access easement to their Vantage interchange property. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Public Works (PW) offered to purchase surplus property from WSDOT in February 2023. • WSDOT declined our offer stating that the offer was approximately 65 percent of its "highest and best" value. • The appraisal, paid for by PW, relies on an "extraordinary assumption" that the county will grant an easement across PW property to access the WSDOT parcel. • The WSDOT parcel is also undergoing a benzine spill cleanup. • PW recently improved its land near the Vantage Boat ramp to expand parking supporting the Vantage Boat ramp. • The WSDOT parcel is a much better property to support boat ramp parking expansion. • WSDOT is seeking access through the county to support the Vantage Bridge deck replacement project. BACKGROUND: The February 2023 refusal by WSDOT to sell surplus Vantage interchange land forced PW to improve property on boat ramp road supporting overflow parking at the Vantage boat ramp. The WSDOT property has a benzine spill cleanup that is ongoing, and the property currently has no access, except through PW property. After paying for the appraisal, PW was forced to sign a "non -disclosure" agreement to view the appraisal. DISCUSSION: PW desires to support our Union Gap WSDOT partners. Utilizing the Vantage interchange property for a contractor lay down yard will greatly benefit the project. PW is recommending that the Board of County Commissioners offer WSDOT a three-year Page 1 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2024