YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

October 2, 2008

Migrant work camp could be shuttered

County officials allow owner time to resolve road easement dispute

by Phil Ferolitio
Yakima Herald-Republic

A dispute over a road easement could shut down a Granger cherry grower’s camp for migrant workers.

After yanking a conditional use permit last month that would have allowed grower Helen Reddout to operate the camp, Yakima County officials reversed their decision Tuesday and gave her 90 days to work out the easement dispute with Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District.

A retired teacher, Reddout comes from a family that has been farming for generations and has launched lawsuits against dairy and feedlot operations in the Lower Valley over environmental concerns.

The irrigation district says Reddout lacks the authority to use the road that runs along an irrigation ditch for her camp, which houses nearly 100 people during the cherry harvest.

Reddout erected a dozen tents, each large enough to house a family, on concrete pads earlier this year. She also constructed two large buildings equipped with showers and a kitchen on the property on the north side of Cherry Hill.

The camp was open to workers in June during the cherry harvest after Reddout received a conditional use permit from the county.

But after receiving opposition from the irrigation district over the use of the road, county officials on Sept. 3 said Reddout’s permit had expired due to a lack of access to the property, said Yakima County attorney Paul McIlrath.

“I’m confident that we can work this out,” he said. “We have no issues with the project. We just want to make sure there is adequate access to that site.”

Reddout, who couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday, filed a petition in Yakima County Superior Court seeking to have the permit reinstated.

In her petition, she states the road easement was conveyed to the previous property owners, and that she acquired it after buying the property.

The Granger Irrigation District originally oversaw the maintenance and operation of the road and ditch before merging with the Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District.

Now, the Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District says the Granger district didn’t have the authority to convey a federal easement to the property owners.

The district also contends that any agreement would only allow property owners access, not an entire camp of workers, said Jim Trull of the irrigation district.

“It’s a substantial increase in the use of that road than what they have,” he said. “They should come in on their own road, and not one used by the district for operations and maintenance.”