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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />AGENDA DATE: <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />AGENDA STAFF REPORT <br />August 2, 2022 <br />Request to Approve a Resolution authorizing Chair <br />signature on ten (10) water right quit claim deeds <br />and Real Estate Excise Tax affidavits. <br />BACKGROUND: Per our settlement agreement with the Department <br />of Ecology (Ecology), Futurewise, the Kittitas <br />County Conservation Coalition, and Ridge <br />Association, Kittitas County has been purchasing <br />water rights to mitigate for historic and new <br />groundwater uses. On February 12th, 2018, Kittitas <br />County and Ecology entered into a Master Trust <br />Water Right Agreement. The Master Trust Water <br />Right Agreement specifies that Kittitas County will <br />execute and deliver to Ecology a recorded quit <br />claim deed and Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) <br />affidavit for each water right managed in the Trust <br />Water Right Program. Kittitas County is now ready <br />to deliver quit claim deeds and Real Estate Excise <br />Tax affidavits for ten (10) water rights. With this <br />conveyance, Kittitas County has met its <br />commitment in the Settlement Agreement to acquire <br />sufficient senior water rights for mitigation for <br />historic use, in advance of the May 15, 2024, <br />deadline. <br />INTERACTION: <br />Public Works <br />RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution authorizing Chair signature <br />on Ten (10) quit claim deeds and Real Estate Excise <br />Tax Affidavits. <br />HANDLING: Return a copy of the Resolution to Public Works <br />along with the Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavits <br />and Quit Claim Deeds <br />ATTACHMENTS: Ten (10) quit claim deeds and Real Estate Excise <br />Tax Affidavits <br />LEAD STAFF: Arden Thomas, Water Resource Manager <br />