HomeMy WebLinkAbout013 Ditch Maintenance Agreement After recording return to:
Middle Creek Ditch Company
CIO Kevin Haggerty
P.O. Box 2
Bozeman, MT 59771
DITCH RELOCATION & EASEMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into this JT,7 day of 2022 by and between
the Middle Creek Ditch Company, a Montana corporation of P.O. Box 2, Bozeman, MT 59771,
(hereinafter referred to as "the Ditch Company") and Blackwood Land Fund, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company c/o 115 West Kagy Blvd, Ste. L, Bozeman, MT 59715 (hereinafter
referred to as "Blackwood").
WHEREAS, the Ditch Company is the owner of an extensive irrigation ditch system
located in the area generally known as southern portion of the Gallatin Valley, Gallatin County
Montana;
WHEREAS, the Ditch Company has established a ditch easement for its ditch for the
purpose of conveying irrigation water to its members' real property (hereinafter referred to as
"Ditch");
WHEREAS, the Ditch Company's Ditch traverses operty which is now owned by
Blackwood, more specifically described as ISLE Frk7l, ;8
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WHEREAS, Blackwood desires to now develop the Property for purposes of a mixed use
residential and commercial development with the municipal limits of the City of Bozeman; and
WHEREAS, the Ditch Company and Blackwood acknowledge that the Middle Creek
Company may convey water through the portion of the Middle Creek Ditch and laterals which is
addressed by this Agreement and that this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties are desirous of formalizing an agreement between them which will
define the terms and conditions under which Blackwood might relocate the Ditch and under which
the relocated portion of the Ditch will be maintained in the event it is relocated;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1. All recitals are incorporated herein as if fully set forth.
2. The Ditch Company, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall permit
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Blackwood to relocate the Ditch over and across the Property to a new location as set forth on
Exhibit A attached hereto, which exhibits shall become an integral part of this Agreement.
In the event the Ditch is relocated and/or piped, Blackwood expressly agrees to convey to
Ditch Company a five-foot (6) easement on either side of the centeriine of the relocates! Ditch
and/or pipe.
3. Blackwood will provide for the adequate transport of water through the ditch, including
piped sections, without jeopardizing the integrity of the Ditch. Blackwood shall have the right to
cure the issues raised by the Ditch Company.
4. Blackwood shall be responsible for the removal of all debris from either end of any
culvert or pipeline opening located on the Property, so as to cause no restriction to water flow in
the Ditch. In addition, Blackwood shall be responsible for stabilizing the ditch bank around any
culvert or pipeline openings so no sloughing occurs.
5. Blackwood agrees the Ditch Company may enter upon the Property for purposes of
inspection, repair, operation and maintenance of the ditch at any time. Blackwood shall assume
full responsibility for all repair and maintenance of the Ditch as it traverses the Property including
portions which are not re-located or reconstructed by Blackwood, and, in particular, for any portion
of the ditch which is located in a pipeline or culvert installed by Blackwood. In the event Blackwood
does not promptly and properly maintain and repair the Ditch as needed, the Ditch Company
reserves the right to perform any repair and maintenance work as may be necessary and all costs
incurred by the Ditch Company will be reimbursed by Blackwood. At no time shall such entry
interfere with the construction of the new Ditch or the on-going operations on the Property.
6. Prior to conducting any repair or maintenance work to the ditch or easement which is
not immediately required, the Ditch Company shall give Blackwood 10 calendar days prior notice
of such repair and/or maintenance work and provide Blackwood with the opportunity to perform
the repair or maintenance work within 10 calendar days after Ditch Company's notice. If this
maintenance and/or repair work is not completed within the within 10 calendar days after the Ditch
Company's notice or within the time agreed to between the parties in writing, the Ditch Company
may undertake the completion of the required repair and/or maintenance work and submit an
invoice for the same to Blackwood which shall be paid by Blackwood within 10 calendar days of
receipt of the invoice. In the event Blackwood fails to pay the invoice, the Ditch Company shall
have a right to place a lien on any or all of the Property to secure payment for repair and/or
maintenance work.
7. Under no circumstances shall Blackwood interrupt or in anyway interfere with the flow
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of water through the Ditch at any time without prior written consent of the Ditch Company.
Permission to interrupt the flow of water will be granted based on the sole discretion of the Ditch
Company.
9. Blackwood hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Ditch Company harmless from
any and all claims, causes of action, costs, and reasonable attorney fees which the Ditch
Company may sustain by reason of or in connection with any claim filed against it for any event
which may occur on the Property or as a result of any action by Blackwood, its successors, agents,
assigns or property owner(s). Blackwood further agrees that it shall insure it's above described
Property for general liability in an amount not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.). This
insurance policy must identify the Ditch Company as an additional insured. Evidence of said
insurance policy shall be provided by Blackwood on an annual basis to the Ditch Company.
10. This agreement shall be binding on the successors in interest and assigns of each
party.
11. All covenants and agreements herein contained shall extend to and be binding upon
the heirs, personal representatives, assigns, or successors of the respective parties hereto and
shall run with the title of the property in perpetuity unless rescinded in writing by the Ditch
Company. Blackwood's rights and responsibilities shall specifically inure to all of the future
owners of the property.
12. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties hereto and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings
of the parties in connection herewith which conflict with the expressed terms, covenants, and
conditions of this Agreement. Covenant, representation, or condition not expressed in this
Agreement shall not be effective to interpret, change, or restrict the express provisions of this
Agreement unless specified in writing and signed by both parties hereto.
13. If it becomes necessary for either party hereto to bring suit to enforce their rights
under this Agreement and if that party shall prevail in such action, the other party agrees to pay
all of the costs of the action as allowed by the Court together with reasonable attorney fees.
14. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to convey any ownership interest in the water
rights owned by Ditch Company nor any permission to use water conveyed in the Ditch pursuant
to a water right in any manner not consistent with Montana law. Blackwood is expressly prohibited
from seeking to change any elements of Ditch Company's water rights without the express written
consent of Ditch Company.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed and sealed this Agreement the
day and year above first written.
Middle
rJCreek Ditch Company
By: ` :
Its: Pr4eiont
STATE OF MONTANA )
ss.
COUNTY OF GALLATIN ) 11
This instrument was acknowledged before me on _ _MWA 2022, by
�Qlikfi � j rJ , as President of Middle Creek Ditch Company.
Notary State of Pontanau,
(seal) Printed Name: 1
BLACKWOOD LAND FUND, LLC:
°PAY Pgyti-, MARY PAYNE
Notary Public
BY: F
:'a0sAR1y4': for the state of Montana
_ '
Its: Mana =* SEAL : = Residing at:
9• Bozeman, Montana
Y
M Commission Expires:
March 05,2023
C
STATE OF MONTANA )
ss.
COUNTY OF GALLATIN )
This instrument was acknowledged before me on V�V't. 2022, by
}n. , as Manager of Blackwood Springs, LLC.
"y Notary State of ontana
P A '�
(s o ap Notary ry Pub TINE Printed Name: ti
R14z: for the State of
* "_ Montana
9.SEAS,.."*,= Boze Residing at:
man Montana
" OF M
'
''00f,i 1.0,01P y o hi$ion Expfre�.
2023
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** * ** Exhibit A
* qbt* * ALTA COMMITMENT
Property Description
The S112SW114 of Section 24 and the N112N112NW114 of Section 25,Township 2 South,Range 5 East,P.M.M.,Gallatin
County, Montana. (Deed Reference: Book 80 of Deeds, Page 358)
EXCEPTING THEREFROM that portion conveyed to the State of Montana in Bargain and Sale Deed, recorded
November 5, 1963 in Book 144 of Deeds,Page 148,records of Gallatin County,Montana.
This page is only a part of a 2016 ALTA Commitment for Title Insurance, This Commitment is not valid without the Notice;the Commitment
to Issue Policy;the Commitment Conditions;Schedule A;Schedule B, Part I-Requirements;and Schedule B,Part 11-Exceptions.
ALTA Commitment for Title Insurance
Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
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