City, school district trade property

The Ritzville School District and the City of Ritzville entered into an agreement to trade property surrounding the ag shop in Ritzville on Tuesday morning. City representatives approached the school district about trading property in the park for the trade of an easement and installation of a sewer line to the ag shop.

During a special meeting on Feb. 11, the Ritzville School Board of Directors unanimously approved to make the trade with the city.

Scott Carruth made the motion to swap the land with the city as outlined in the map provided to the school board members and Marci Miller seconded the motion.

The agreement allows the district to retain 15 feet of land east of the ag shop, while the city has granted a 16 foot easement on the west side of the existing property line.

Both strips of land stretch north to south from Division Street to Columbia Street. The city has also agreed to pay the costs associated with completing the surveying and boundary line adjustment process, as well as the cost of installing a sewer line to the school district property.

The City of Ritzville obtains the school property exceeding the 15-foot boundary from the building and will continue to maintain the land as the Ritzville City Park.

The school district previously owned the land from the ag shop to the west side of the water tower, and up to the west side of the picnic shelter area.

The property trade on the west side of the existing property line for the district will be graveled and used as an access/utility easement.

The installation of the sewer line from the main sewer line assists clean out the north end of the ag shop building, and will help reduce ongoing issues with the line, Superintendent Rob Roettger said in the special meeting.

“My preference is we keep the park the park, I think that’s right thing for the city and for our patrons,” Roettger said.

With the City of Ritzville receiving bids for selling short plats on the Hauschild’s Addition No. 7, commonly known as the Old High School property, the city needed to finalize plans with the school district before the bid openings early next week.

“This will help with the city’s process,” Ritzville Mayor Linda Kadlec said after the Ritzville school board members voted on the decision, thanking the directors for helping the city with the land trade.

The land trade still provides the school district with an area to construct a greenhouse, which would have access from the Columbia Street portion of the property.