HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment - Pat KelleherWrc
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Mandy Buchholz
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pat kelleher < psk98926@yahoo.com>
Monday, June 15,202610:09 AM
Kittitas County Commissioners Office
Public comment Jun16 2026 Land Use agreement with GPUDSubject:
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Public Comment - June 16,2026
Land Use Agreement with Grant County PUD
Commissioners,
There is no demonstrated benefit to Kittitas County residents from continuing this agreement. The agreement primarily
creates costs for services that Grant County PUD IGPUD) is already obligated to provide as recreation mitigation under
the FERC Priest Rapids Project License.
GpUD has always been the legal owner of the property. Kittitas County had no ownership interest and questionable legal
standing to enter into an RCOigreement for restroom-funding on GPUD property. lt is my understanding that the RCO
grant his expired, although many RCO agreements are typically intended to remain in force indefinitely.
During the priest Rapids project relicensing process, GPUD terminated all previous project land use permits, eliminating
any piior legal standing Kittitas County may have claimed within the project boundary.
GpUD's recreation mitigation obligation is to provide restroom facilities at designated project-related recreation sites. The
grass area adjacent to Ihe new swimming area could be incorporated into the existing Vantage Boat Launch site through
a recreation plan update or a FERC license amendment request.
Kittitas County has already provided and maintained additional boat-launch parking outside the project boundary. This
parking helps mitigate the need for GPUD to secure additional public vehicle access to the existing GPUD-permitted
Ellensburg Boat Club boat ramp south of the l-90 interchange.
public vehicle access would also open approximately one mile of shoreline and roughly 250 acres at the former Airstrip
site in front of Vantage Bay for pubiic recreation. Under the FERC license, Vantage Bay residents already have
unrestricted public access to the Airstrip from their properties.
There are many project-related recreation opportunities available within the project boundary. Restroom maintenance,
supplies, and relateO services would continue to be provided immediately by GPUD as part of its recreation mitigation
responsibilities even if this agreement is not approved.
Kittitas County has limited recreation funding. Those funds would be better invested in recreation projects located outside
the Priest Rapids Project boundary that directly benefit Kittitas County residents'
Thank you for your consideration
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Regards,
Pat Kelleher
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