More information about the rescent attempt to gain control of the water rights at the old brewery site via this morning’s Olympian, Olympia made right move on water rights:
Unbeknownst to everyone else, attorneys hired by the city of Olympia stumbled onto the fact that an old law dating back more than 100 years allows cities to condemn unused water rights outside their city limits. It’s on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Olympia could have and should have tipped Tumwater to the condemnation law and let Tumwater file the court action. Relations among the three cities and county are already strained, and Olympia’s preemptive move will drive additional wedges between the local jurisdictions.
That said, given the scarcity of water rights in this county, it was important that a city move quickly to secure the brewery’s water resources. Olympia stumbled only in not letting Tumwater take the lead.”