754833 - Grant Co BLM letter - Laserfiche WebLink

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2000 (134) August 16, 2006 Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners 205 West Fifth Street Ellensburg, Washington 98926 Dear Commissioners: This is sent in response to a Notice of Public Hearing issued by the Board of County Commissioners on August 1, 2006, to consider applications for resale of certain tax title properties within Kittitas County. After being alerted about the notice via the Grant County Public Utility District, we confirmed that one of the tracts being considered for sale is actually part of a larger property currently owned by the United States. Therefore, we are requesting that this property (described below) be removed from consideration for sale, and Kittitas County records be changed to note ownership by the United States. According to your notice, the parcel number is #754833, the map number is #16-23-28000-0001, and the legal description is "Acres 6.26, Sec. 28; Twp. 16; Rge. 23; Lot 3..." This tract consists of the northerly portion of Lot 3. We also confirmed that Kittitas County Assessor's records incorrectly show that the 17.39 acres comprising the southern portion of Lot 3 is owned by Grant County PUD #2 (parcel #764833; Map #16-23-28000-0002). The Grant County PUD does not claim ownership of this tract. The BLM's records show that the United States owns the entirety of Lot 3, T.16N., R.23E., Willamette Meridian, comprising 23.65 acres, and has not conveyed any part of the property. This would be necessary in order for a legitimate chain of title to be started. In fact, in 1911, the federal government withdrew Lot 3 from disposal by enactment of a powersite reservation. Later, in 1952, a second withdrawal was placed on the property. On this occasion, the tract was withdrawn for the benefit of the Grant County PUD, via the designation of power project #2114 for the Priest Rapids Dam Hydroelectric Project. Lastly, Lot 3 is currently leased for oil and gas by the BLM. For your information, we have enclosed a copy of BLM's master title plat of this township, with Lot 3 highlighted.